Radiology, Vol 186, 203-205, Copyright © 1993 by Radiological Society of North America
Intraportal US with 20-MHz and 30-MHz scanning catheters. Work in progress
T Noguchi, M Makuuchi, F Maruta, T Kakazu and S Kawasaki
First Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan.
Intraportal ultrasonography (US) with scanning catheters was attempted in
nine patients with various biliary tract diseases, to evaluate the portal
venous system for tumor invasion. Intraportal US was performed successfully
in seven patients. Intraportal US scans were compared with images obtained
with arterial portography, direct portography, and intraoperative US.
Intraportal and intraoperative US revealed cancer invasion into the wall of
the portal venous trunk in two patients. Negative findings for cancer
invasion with intraportal US were verified with intraoperative US and
laparoscopic examination in five cases. Arterial portography was unable to
delineate the fine portal venous wall configuration in six of the seven
patients, and direct portographic images were not fully diagnostic of tumor
invasion in three cases. The improved detection of tumor invasion to the
portal venous system with intraportal US was helpful in determining the
appropriate treatment for biliary tract disease in these patients.
