Evaluation of portacaval collateral vessels with multi-slice spiral CT portal venography

Objective To detect the clinical applicative value of multi-slice spiral CT portal venography in displaying portacaval collateral vessels in patients of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension.Methods 92 patients of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension underwent endoscopy and 8-detector row CT portal venography which need image post-processing techniques to show the portacaval collateral vessels.It was evaluated that the degree of concordance between endoscopy and 8-detector row CT portal venography.Results Excellent image quality of portacaval collateral vessels with CTPV was obtained in all patients.The diameter of portal vein and left gastric vein was also obtained in this study.There was a good degree of concordance between CTPV and endoscopy in revealing esophageal varices (Kappa=0.502) and gastric fundic varices(Kappa=0.478).Conclusion CTPV is very effective and valuable for providing important and accurate information of the collateral circulation in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.There is a good degree of concordance between CTPV and endoscopy in revealing esophageal varices and gastric fundic varices.It is helpful to diagnose and make prognosis by CTPV and endoscopy simultaneously in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.