Biliary collateral veins and associated biliary abnormalities of portal hypertensive biliopathy in patients with cavernous transformation of portal vein.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of biliary collateral veins and associated biliary abnormalities of portal hypertensive biliopathy (PHB).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Thirty-six patients including 18 patients with abnormal biliary changes and 18 patients as control group were involved in this study. MRI features of biliary collateral veins were analyzed.

RESULTS

Stenosis with dilated proximal bile ducts occurred in 33.3% of patients, 27.8% of patients had irregular ductal walls, 22.2% of patients had thickened ductal walls, 16.7% of patients had angulated ductal walls, and 44.4% of patients had thickened gallbladder walls.

CONCLUSIONS

Biliary collateral veins and associated biliary abnormalities of PHB can be detected by MRI.