SECTIONAL AND IMAGING ANATOMY OF THE RIGHT HEMILIVER INTRAHEPATIC PORTAL VEIN

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the course,distribution characteristic of the right hemiliver intrahepatic portal vein.We also investigated the relationships between hepatic veins and portal hepatic fissures,including sectional anatomic data for the division of hepatic segments.Methods Using 30 successive sections of the upper abdomen of the adult cadavers(10 transverse,20 coronal) and multi-slice computed tomography enhanced images and three-dimensional images of 20 patients,we investigated the branch pattern and common variation of right hemiliver intrahepatic portal veins and the relationship between the hepatic veins and intrahepatic portal veins.Results The intrahepatic portal vein of the right hemiliver can be divided into the anterior-superior and posterior-inferior group branches in all 50 specimens and images.In 38(76%) of the 50 specimen and CT images,the branches of the right anterior portal vein supplied the area that was posterior to the right hepatic vein.In 20(40%) of 50 specimen and CT images the first branch arising from the initial part of the right posterior portal vein towards the caudal supply the part area where anterior to the right hepatic vein.The blood-supply to the area of the right anterior portal vein expands to the left of the middle hepatic vein,especially in 15 patients whose right portal vein trunks was absent.There was no obvious transverse fissure in the right anterior lobe of liver.Further subdivision of the portal segments showed marked individual variability,with no prevailing branching pattern.Conclusion The right hemiliver could be divided into right anterior-superior and right posterior-inferior lobes,and there was a curved fissure between them.There was a constant longitudinal fissure in the right anterior-superior lobe of liver.In addition,the right hepatic vein was not an accurate indicator of the position of the right interlobar fissure especially in the superior part and inferior part.The middle hepatic vein was not an accurate indicator of the median fissure especially when the right portal trunk was absent.