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Portal biliopathy: a multitechnique imaging approach

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Abstract

Portal biliopathy (PB) is a disorder characterized by biliary ductal and gallbladder wall abnormalities seen in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction. These abnormalities consist mainly of bile duct compression and tethering, stenoses, fibrotic strictures and dilatation of both extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts, as well as gallbladder varices. In this pictorial essay, we describe the imaging findings of PB, which allow differentiation of this entity from other diseases that may have similar imaging findings including cholangiocarcinoma, extrinsic compression of the bile duct caused by metastatic adenopathy or sclerosing cholangitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Marcoleta 367, 8330024, Santiago, Chile

    Cecilia Besa, Juan Pablo Cruz, Alvaro Huete & Francisco Cruz

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  1. Cecilia Besa
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  2. Juan Pablo Cruz
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  3. Alvaro Huete
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  4. Francisco Cruz
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Correspondence to Alvaro Huete.

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Besa, C., Cruz, J.P., Huete, A. et al. Portal biliopathy: a multitechnique imaging approach. Abdom Imaging 37, 83–90 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-011-9765-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-011-9765-2

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