Clinical application of multi-slice spiral CT in diagnosis and treatment of cavernous transformation of portal vein

Objective: To explore the value of multi-slice spiral CT(MSCT) in diagnosis and treatment of cavernous transformation of the portal vein(CTPA).Methods: Patients with clinically suspected portal vein lesion were scanned by MSCT plain and dynamic enhanced scans and 17 cases of CTPV were found.Image post-processing techniques,including MPR,MIP and VR,were applied to depict the cavernous transformed portal vein and its collaterals.Results: On plain MSCT,multiple soft tissue nodules were found in the porta hepatis region of 17 cases CTPV.On portal vein phase images the main trunk of portal vein accompanied with its left and right branches were dilated with filling defects in 12 cases,the main trunk of portal vein accompanied with superior mesenteric vein and spleen vein were dilated with filling defects in 3 cases;portal vein aneurysm were displayed in 2 cases.Pericholedochal venous plexus,cystic and left gastric vein were displayed respectively in 17 cases,11 cases and 15 cases.The courses and extents of the varicose vessels were directly demonstrated with MPR,MIP and VR techniques.Conclusion: MSCT was the principal methods in the diagnosis,therapy selection of CTPA due to it can display clearly the location,the extent and collateral circulation by providing a more direct and 3-dimension image.