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Diagnosis of an accessory portal vein and its clinical implications for portosystemic shunts

  • Clinical Investigations
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To present a peculiar anatomic portal veins variant and evaluate its clinical implications.

Methods

Among 118 consecutive patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS), six male patients were found to have an accessory portal vein, which was seen during direct portography.

Results

In all six patients, portograms showed an accessory small-caliber vein parallel to the trunk of the main portal vein ending in the right lobe of the liver. Two of the six accessory portal veins drained blood from coronary veins, precluding access to coronary vein embolization during TIPS.

Conclusion

An accessory portal vein is a rare anatomical variation with clinical significance for both surgical shunt placement and TIPS, as well as for transportal embolization of coronary veins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, General Hospital of PLA, 100853, Beijing, P. R. China

    Jin Shan Zhang M.D., Yan Ping Wang, Mao Qiang Wang, Li Yang, Chong Chong Xing, Miao Yu & Zhipeng Cui

Authors
  1. Jin Shan Zhang M.D.
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  2. Yan Ping Wang
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  3. Mao Qiang Wang
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  4. Li Yang
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  5. Chong Chong Xing
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  6. Miao Yu
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  7. Zhipeng Cui
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Zhang, J.S., Wang, Y.P., Wang, M.Q. et al. Diagnosis of an accessory portal vein and its clinical implications for portosystemic shunts. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 19, 239–241 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02577642

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02577642

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