Portal vein thrombosis: CT features.

There are many causative diseases to produced portal vein thrombosis (PVT) with the most common being liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma. Visualization of abnormalities associated with PVT is crucial to diagnosis and appropriate intervention. Dynamic contrast enhanced CT is the best means of diagnosis of PVT and evaluation of various causative diseases. The findings of PVT of the dynamic CT are filling defect partially or totally occluding the vessel lumen and rim enhancement of the vessel wall. Signs and symptoms of PVT may be subtle or nonspecific and overshadowed by the underlying illness. Radiologists should be aware of the clinical situations that predispose a patient to portal or mesenteric vein thrombosis.