An anomaly in persistent right umbilical vein of portal vein diagnosed by ultrasonography.

AIM: To detect the anomaly in the persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV) of portal vein (PV) with deviation of the ligamentum tere and left-sided gallbladder.

METHODS

A total of 5783 candidates for routine analysis were evaluated for hepatic vascular abnormalities by ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Ten candidates (0.17%) had a portal vein anomaly with a rightward-deviated ligamentum tere. The blood-flow velocity in the PRUV of the portal vein (17.7+/-3.0 cm/s) of the 10 cases was similar to that of the right anterior portal trunk (17.6+/-4.1 cm/s). However, the vessel diameter of the PRUV (eta12.4+/-4.4 mm) was larger than the right anterior portal trunk (eta6.1+/-0.9 mm). Therefore, flow volume in the anomalous portion (0.97+/-0.30 L/min) was more than that in the right anterior portal trunk (0.18+/-0.05 L/min).

CONCLUSION

The anomaly plays an important role in intra-hepatic PV flow.