Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2014 , Vol 17, Issue 3
INTRAHEPATIC PORTOSYSTEMIC VENOUS SHUNT
Semra DURAN1, Betül AKDAL1, Alper DİLLİ2
1Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Clinic of Radiology ANKARA
2Ankara Dıskapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Education and Research Hospital, Clinic of Radiology ANKARA
Portosystemic shunts can be classified as intrahepatic and extrahepatic according to their anatomic features. Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are rare vascular anomalies occurring between the portal vein and hepatic vein/ inferior vena cava, and can be congenital or acquired. With recent advances in diagnostic imaging techniques, the number of reports of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts identified incidentally in patients without symptoms is increasing. This is clinically important because intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt can lead to hepatic encephalopathy. The rate of hepatic encephalopathy increases with age because of decreasing tolerance of the brain to toxic metabolites. The correct radiological diagnosis and proper treatment of this unusual abnormality is important. We present a case of noncirrhotic patient with a diagnosis of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt, accompanied by imaging findings. Keywords : Patent Ductus Venosus; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Tomography, Spiral Computed; Magnetic Resonance Imaging