Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Alcoholic liver disease: Value of the left-to-right portal vein ratio in its sonographic diagnosis

  • Published:
Gastrointestinal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study group of 50 patients in whom the left portal vein diameter was equal to or greater than the right portal vein diameter (LPVD≥RPVD) was prospectively compared on ultrasonography with a control group of 50 patients with LPVD < RPVD. Clinical and laboratory data indicating chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD) were observed with a significantly higher frequency in the study group than in the control group. It emerges from this study that LPVD ≥ RPVD represents a useful ultrasonographic sign of CALD, corresponding to a relative enlargement of the left hepatic lobe compared with the right.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lewis E. Screening for diffuse and focal liver disease: the case for hepatic sonography.J Clin Ultrasound 1984; 12:67–73

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Gosink BB, Leymaster CE. Ultrasonic determination of hepatomegaly.J Clin Ultrasound 1981; 9:37–41

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Neiderau C, Sonnenberg A. Liver size evaluated by ultrasound: ROC curves for hepatitis and alcoholism.Radiology 1984; 153:503–505

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Joseph AEA, Dewburry KC, McGuire PG. Ultrasound in the detection of chronic liver disease: the bright liver.Br J Radiol 1979; 52:184–188

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dewburry KC, Clark B. The accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of cirrhosis of the liver.Br J Radiol 1979; 52:945–948

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Foster KJ, Dewburry KC, Griffith AH, Wright R. The accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of fatty infiltration of the liver.Br J Radiol 1980; 53:440–442

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Garra BS, Insana MF, Shawker TH, Russell MA. Quantitative estimation of liver attenuation and echogenicity: normal state versus diffuse liver disease.Radiology 1987; 162:61–67

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Freeman MP, Vick CW, Taylor KJW, Carithers RL, Brener WH. Regenerating nodules in cirrhosis: sonographic appearance with anatomic correlation.AJR 1986; 146:533–536

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dilelio A, Cestari C, Lomazzi A, Beretta L. Cirrhosis: diagnosis with sonographic study of the liver surface.Radiology 1989; 172:389–392

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Weinreb J, Kumari S, Phillips G, Pochaczevsky R. Portal vein measurements by real-time sonography.AJR 1982; 139:497–499

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Rector WG, Campra J, Rails PW, Charms M. Utility and limitations of splanchnic venous ultrasonography in diagnosis of portal hypertension.J Clin Ultrasound 1986; 14:689–696

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bolondi L, Gandolfi L, Arienti V, Caletti GC, Corcioni E, Gasbarrini G, Labo G. Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of portal hypertension: diminished response of portal vessels to respiration.Radiology 1982; 142:167–172

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kane RA, Katz SG. The spectrum of sonographic findings in portal hypertension: a subject review and new observations.Radiology 1982; 142:453–458

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sandford NL, Walsh P, Matis C, Baddeley H, Powell LW. Is ultrasonography useful in the assessment of diffuse parenchymal liver disease?Gastroenterology 1985; 89:186–191

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Subramanyam BR, Balthazar EJ, Madamba MR, Raghavendra BN, Horii SC, Lefleur RS. Sonography of portosystemic venous collaterals in portal hypertension.Radiology 1983; 146:161–166

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Harbin WP, Robert NJ, Ferrucci JT. Diagnosis of cirrhosis based on regional changes in hepatic morphology.Radiology 1980; 135:273–283

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Giorgio A, Amoroso P, Lettieri G, Fico P, de Stafano G, Finelli L, Scala V, Tarantino L, Pierri P, Pesce G. Cirrhosis: value of caudate to right lobe ratio in diagnosis with US.Radiology 1986; 161:443–445

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hess CF, Schmiedl U, Koelbel G, Knecht R, Kurtz B. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with US: receiver-operating characteristic analysis of multidimensional caudate lobe indexes.Radiology 1989; 171:349–351

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Torres WE, Whitmire LF, Gedgaudas-McClees K, Bernardino ME. Computed tomography of hepatic morphologic changes in cirrhosis of the liver.J Comput Assist Tomogr 1986; 10:47–50

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Paturet G.Traité d'anatomie humaine, tome III. Paris: Masson, 1958:856–859

    Google Scholar 

  21. Popper H, Elias H, Petty DE. Vascular pattern of cirrhotic liver.Am J Clin Pathol 1952; 22:717–729

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Buxton-Thomas M, Chisholm R, Dixon AK. Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation shown by computed tomography — predilection for the left lobe?Br J Radiol 1985; 58:499–502

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sherlock S. Alcohol and the liver. In:Diseases of the liver and biliary system, 7th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1985:346–362

    Google Scholar 

  24. Matloff DS, Selinger MJ, Kaplan MM. Hepatic transaminase activity in alcoholic liver disease.Gastroenterology 1980; 78:1389–1392

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Van Leeuwen DJ, Howe SC, Schever PJ, Sherlock S. Portal hypertension in chronic hepatitis: relationship to morphological changes.Gut 1990; 31:339–343

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Goodman ZD, Ishak KG. Occlusive venous lesions in alcoholic liver disease.Gastroenterology 1982; 83:786–796

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ryback RS, Eckardt MJ, Felsher B, Rawlings RR. Biochemical and hematologic correlates of alcoholism and liver disease.JAMA 1982; 248:2261–2265

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Russell E, Yrizzary JM, Montalvo BM, Guerra JJ, Al-Refai F. Left hepatic duct anatomy: implications.Radiology 1990; 174:353–356

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Couinaud C. Le foie. In:Etudes anatomiques et chirurgicales. Paris: Masson, 1957

    Google Scholar 

  30. Funston MR, Goudie E, Richter IA, Butterworth AM, Allan JC. Ultrasound diagnosis of the recanalized umbilical vein in portal hypertension.J Clin Ultrasound 1980; 8:244–246

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Lafortune M, Constantin A, Breton G, Legare AG, Lavoie P. The recanalized umbilical vein in portal hypertension: a myth.AJR 1985; 144:549–553

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires UCL Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium

    Jean Paul Trigaux M.D. & Bernard Van Beers

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Cliniques Universitaires UCL Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium

    Michel Melange

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires UCL Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium

    Martin Buysschaert

Authors
  1. Jean Paul Trigaux M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bernard Van Beers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michel Melange
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Martin Buysschaert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Trigaux, J.P., Van Beers, B., Melange, M. et al. Alcoholic liver disease: Value of the left-to-right portal vein ratio in its sonographic diagnosis. Gastrointest Radiol 16, 215–220 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01887349

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01887349

Key words

Search

Navigation