Portal hypertension: Elevated portal pressures due to resistance to portal flow, defined as absolute portal venous pressure of > 10 mm Hg or gradient between portal and systemic veins of > 5 mm Hg
Varices: Abnormally dilated and tortuous veins due to rerouting of blood flow away from liver into lower pressure systemic veins through collateral pathways
Ascites: Pathologic fluid accumulation in peritoneal cavity
IMAGING
General Features
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Mandorfer M et al: Noninvasive diagnostics for portal hypertension: a comprehensive review. Semin Liver Dis. 40(3):240-55, 2020
Nicoară-Farcău O et al: Diagnostic challenges in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension - porto sinusoidal vascular disease. World J Gastroenterol. 26(22):3000-11, 2020
Gerstenmaier JF et al: Ultrasound in chronic liver disease. Insights Imaging. 5(4):441-55, 2014
Lee JY et al: Clinically severe portal hypertension: role of multi-detector row CT features in diagnosis. Dig Dis Sci. 59(9):2333-43, 2014
Liu CH et al: Esophageal varices: noninvasive diagnosis with duplex Doppler US in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Radiology. 248(1):132-9, 2008
Kabeer MA et al: Stomal varices: a rare cause of stomal hemorrhage. A report of three cases. Ostomy Wound Manage. 53(8):20-2, 24, 26 passim, 2007
Kim SH et al: Esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: multidetector CT esophagography--comparison with endoscopy. Radiology. 242(3):759-68, 2007
Ishikawa T et al: CT-maximum intensity projection is a clinically useful modality for the detection of gastric varices. World J Gastroenterol. 11(47):7515-9, 2005
Pickhardt PJ et al: Unusual nonneoplastic peritoneal and subperitoneal conditions: CT findings. Radiographics. 25(3):719-30, 2005
Willmann JK et al: Detection of submucosal gastric fundal varices with multi-detector row CT angiography. Gut. 52(6):886-92, 2003
Ito K et al: CT of acquired abnormalities of the portal venous system. Radiographics. 17(4):897-917, 1997
Cho KC et al: Varices in portal hypertension: evaluation with CT. Radiographics. 15(3):609-22, 1995
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Portal hypertension: Elevated portal pressures due to resistance to portal flow, defined as absolute portal venous pressure of > 10 mm Hg or gradient between portal and systemic veins of > 5 mm Hg
Varices: Abnormally dilated and tortuous veins due to rerouting of blood flow away from liver into lower pressure systemic veins through collateral pathways
Ascites: Pathologic fluid accumulation in peritoneal cavity
IMAGING
General Features
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
Mandorfer M et al: Noninvasive diagnostics for portal hypertension: a comprehensive review. Semin Liver Dis. 40(3):240-55, 2020
Nicoară-Farcău O et al: Diagnostic challenges in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension - porto sinusoidal vascular disease. World J Gastroenterol. 26(22):3000-11, 2020
Gerstenmaier JF et al: Ultrasound in chronic liver disease. Insights Imaging. 5(4):441-55, 2014
Lee JY et al: Clinically severe portal hypertension: role of multi-detector row CT features in diagnosis. Dig Dis Sci. 59(9):2333-43, 2014
Liu CH et al: Esophageal varices: noninvasive diagnosis with duplex Doppler US in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Radiology. 248(1):132-9, 2008
Kabeer MA et al: Stomal varices: a rare cause of stomal hemorrhage. A report of three cases. Ostomy Wound Manage. 53(8):20-2, 24, 26 passim, 2007
Kim SH et al: Esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis: multidetector CT esophagography--comparison with endoscopy. Radiology. 242(3):759-68, 2007
Ishikawa T et al: CT-maximum intensity projection is a clinically useful modality for the detection of gastric varices. World J Gastroenterol. 11(47):7515-9, 2005
Pickhardt PJ et al: Unusual nonneoplastic peritoneal and subperitoneal conditions: CT findings. Radiographics. 25(3):719-30, 2005
Willmann JK et al: Detection of submucosal gastric fundal varices with multi-detector row CT angiography. Gut. 52(6):886-92, 2003
Ito K et al: CT of acquired abnormalities of the portal venous system. Radiographics. 17(4):897-917, 1997
Cho KC et al: Varices in portal hypertension: evaluation with CT. Radiographics. 15(3):609-22, 1995
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