Radiology, Vol 130, 725-728, Copyright © 1979 by Radiological Society of North America
Portal and hepatic veins: accuracy of margin echoes for distinguishing intrahepatic vessels
N Chafetz and RA Filly
One hundred randomly selected sonograms were retrospectively reviewed to
determine the accuracy of employing the margin characteristics of
intrahepatic venous radicals to distinguish portal from hepatic veins; 99%
of intrahepatic portal veins demonstrated high amplitude acoustic margins.
However, one or more hepatic veins also had high amplitude acoustic margins
in 29% of patients in whom intraparenchymal hepatic veins were identified.
The authors conclude that an intrahepatic venous structure without an
echogenic border is almost invariably an hepatic vein, although other
anatomical features should be considered for proper classification of
intrahepatic venous structures which demonstrate high amplitude echoes
surrounding the lumen.
