[Upper abdominal sonography in total abnormal pulmonary vein confluence into the portal vein].

Upper abdominal sonography demonstrated an asplenia-syndrome and a massive dilatation of the portal vein and its intrahepatic branches in a newborn infant with angiocardiographically confirmed total anomalous pulmonary venous return to the portal vein. A common venous trunk (vertical vein) could be traced from behind the heart to the sinus-like dilated portal vein. Because demonstration of the vertical vein may not be possible with the sector scanner below the diaphragm, we consider sonographic demonstration of a dilated portal vein as an important sign for total anomalous pulmonary venous return to the portal vein. In the newborn period, no other cause is known for such a massive dilatation of the portal vein. Differentiation from malformations of the biliary system can be easily achieved by upper abdominal sonography.