Color Doppler in the diagnosis of idiopathic portal hypertension and its clinical value

Objective To explore the characteristics of idiopathic portal hypertension(IPH) on color Doppler images and to assess the diagnostic value of color Doppler on IPH.Methods Color Doppler sonography was performed to assess the surface and interior echoes of liver,the size of spleen and portal vein system in twenty-five IPH patients.Results In 25 patients undergoing color Doppler examination,intrahepatic portal vein appeared thickened wall,enhanced echoes,stenosis or occlusion in all cases,and coarse liver parenchyma was found in 15 cases,portal vein system cavernous transformation in 22 cases,thrombosis in portal vein system in 5 cases which involved main portal vein,splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein.Fifteen patients had detectable biliary tract pathology by ultrasound examination.Conclusion Color Doppler plays an important role in the diagnosis of IPH.In clinical practice,patients with portal hypertension and hypersplenisa for unknown aetiology should receive color Doppler examination.As thickened enhanced wall,stenosis or occlusion of intrahepatic portal vein and cavernous transformation were appeared,the diagonsis of IPH would be suggested.