Color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the color Doppler ultrasonography and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts (IPSVS).Methods Nineteen patients of congenital IPSVS were examined with color Doppler ultrasonography and CEUS.All patients were confirmed by CT angiography.The hepatic artery arrival time (HAAT),portal vein arrival time (PVAT),and hepatic vein arrival time (HVAT) on CEUS were recorded.The interval time between hepatic artery arrival time and hepatic vein arrival time (HA-HVTT) and the interval time between portal vein arrival time and hepatic vein arrival time (PV-HVTT) were calculated.Results The types of IPSVS between portal and systemic veins were based on Park's classification.Color Doppler ultrasonography showed abnormal communication between the portal vein branch and the hepatic veins,duplex Doppler ultrasonography showed abnormal spectral pattern from the portal vein such as undulating,triphasic waveform mimicked that of the hepatic vein.CEUS demonstrated abnormal communication between portal vein branch and hepatic vein.HVAT,HA-HVTT,and PV-HVTT were shorter statistically in congenital IPSVS group than those in cirrhosis and normal groups.Conclusions Congenital IPSVS is a rare vascular abnormality that is usually asymptomatic.Color Doppler ultrasonography is a useful tool for diagnosis of congenital IPSVS.CEUS provides helpful data for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of congenital IPSVS.

A Clinical Study of Congenital Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Diagnosed in Neonatal Period

PURPOSE: Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are rare disease and clinically asymptomatic shunts may be detected by chance on ultrasonogram before and after birth. We studied clinical course, treatment and prognosis of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunt at prenatal or neonatal period. METHODS: Medical records of 8 patients which were diagnosed in intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in Cheil General Hospital from 2006 through 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Eight patients with congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts were identified. Six patients were diagnosed at prenatal radiological screening, including three cases of intrauterine growth restriction and two cases of preterm baby. One case with increased serum ammonia underwent coil embolization. In four cases including one case that presented elevated direct bilirubin, shunts were closed spontaneously within 11th month after birth. Two patients were diagnosed on abdominal sonogram after birth because of elevated direct hyperbilirubinemia, all of whom presented intrauterine growth restriction. Closure of shunts was confirmed during 4th month to 6th month. CONCLUSION: Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are clinically asymptomatic mostly and spontaneous closure is expected within 2 years age. But occasionally they have severe complication, so clinical and radiological observation is needed. Specially in cases of intrauterine growth retardation without evident cause, the possible diagnosis of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts should be considered and prenatal and postnatal examination should be performed. When prenatal diagnosis is made, fetal wellbeing should be monitored periodically until spontaneous closure of shunts.