Intrahepatic Portosystemic Venous Shunt: Report of Two Cases Assessed by Helical Computed Tomography

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) anatomic analysis was carried out, using helical computed tomography (helical CT), to evaluate its usefulness in two cases of large intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt (IPSVS). METHODS: Case 1, a 74-year-old man with type-C hepatitis, underwent hepatic angiography to confirm suggested IPSVS of the left hepatic lobe in 1994. Case 2, a 62-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis associated with type-B hepatitis, was hospitalized for evaluation of suspected hepatocellular carcinoma in 1994. Hepatic angiography disclosed a large IPSVS in the right hepatic lobe. Retrospective evaluation of CT showed that the size of this shunt had increased over the 5 years 3D anatomic analysis was carried out, and the shunt vessels were clearly demonstrated. CONCLUSION: 3D anatomic analysis using helical CT was less invasive and useful for evaluating large IPSVS.