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Splenic and portal venous obstruction in chronic pancreatitis. A prospective longitudinal study of a medical-surgical series of 266 patients.

The aim of this study was a prospective search for splenoportal venous obstruction (SPVO) in a medical-surgical series of 266 patients with chronic pancreatitis who were followed up a mean time of 8.2 years. SPVO was systematically searched for using ultrasonography and then confirmed by angiography or computed tomography. SPVO was found in 35 patients (13.2%) but was symptomatic in only two. Initial obstruction involved the splenic vein in 22 patients, the portal vein in 10, and the superior mesenteric vein in three. Since venous obstruction extended from the splenic to the portal vein in five patients, the prevalence of portal obstruction was 5.6% (15/266). Acute pancreatitis and pseudocysts were the probable cause of SPVO in 91.4% of our cases. Half the cases of splenic venous obstruction were related to pseudocysts of the caudal pancreas. Esophageal varices were found in two patients and gastric varices in four at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. At the end of follow-up, 12 patients had undergone splenopancreatectomy (N=11) or splenectomy (N=1). Only one patient was operated on for massive esophageal variceal bleeding, and another patient died due to intractable colic variceal bleeding. In four of six patients operated on with portal vein obstruction, surgery was difficult due to venous collaterals. Ten patients were not operated on and 13 patients operated on were not treated for SPVO. The mean follow-up after diagnosis of SPVO for these final 23 patients was 28.9 months. None of these patients bled. We concluded that in chronic pancreatitis: (1) the prevalence of SPVO is 13.2%; (2) SPVO should be systematically searched for in patients with acute pancreatitis or pseudocysts, especially if therapeutic decisions would be modified by a diagnosis of SPVO; (3) the risk of digestive variceal bleeding is lower than previously reported; and (4) portal vein obstruction seems to be riskier than splenic vein obstruction, especially if surgery is needed.

Discrepancy Between Wedged Hepatic Venous Pressure and Portal Venous Pressure After Acute Propranolol Administration in Patients With Alcoholic Cirrhosis

In patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, wedged hepatic venous pressure closely reflects portal venous pressure. This study was carried out to determine if propranolol-induced reductions in portal venous pressure are accurately evaluated by the measurement of wedged hepatic venous pressure. Hepatic venous cannulation and percutaneous transhepatic catheterization of the portal vein were simultaneously performed in 7 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. One hour after oral administration of 40 mg of propranolol, wedged hepatic and portal venous pressures significantly decreased from 24.3 +/- 3.5 (mean +/- SD) to 19.0 +/- 3.0 mmHg, and from 24.7 +/- 3.9 to 22.4 +/- 3.6 mmHg, respectively. Although no significant difference was found between baseline wedged hepatic and portal venous pressures, a significant difference was found between these pressures after propranolol administration. We concluded that during acute administration of a drug acting on the splanchnic circulation, the measurement of wedged hepatic venous pressure may not provide a reliable estimation of the magnitude of the changes in portal venous pressure. There is, however, no evidence that the direction of the changes might not be adequately assessed by wedged hepatic venous pressure measurement.

Radiologic features of papillary adenoma and papillomatosis of the biliary tract

Abstract.Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the imaging findings of papillary adenoma of the bile ducts.nnMethods: Imaging modalities including sonography, computed tomography, cholangiography, and endoscopic sonography obtained in five patients with papillary adenoma of the bile duct were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with pathologic findings.nnResults: In four cases, imaging findings were a dilatation of the bile ducts due to a protruding mass within the lumen of the common bile duct. In one case, the biliary tract obstruction was not due to the mass but to mucus secretion that was detected at sonography, endoscopic sonography, and cholangiography. Multiple lesions were observed in two cases at pathology and not detected preoperatively. All the lesions contained foci of in situ carcinoma or mild dysplasia.nnConclusion: Imaging is useful in detecting bile duct tumors. Hypersecretion of mucus is rare but highly characteristic of bile duct adenoma.nnn

Giant hemangioma of the liver with pain, fever, and abnormal liver tests : report of two cases

SummaryIn conclusion, we report the cases of two patients with large hemangiomas of the liver, abdominal pain, increased ESR and fibrinogen, increased serum alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase activity, and normal white blood cell counts. Clinical and biochemical abnormalities disappeared after surgical resection. Increased ESR and fibrinogen are probably related to thrombosis within the tumor. This mode of presentation may suggest a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Bleeding duodenal varices: Diagnosis and treatment by percutaneous portography and transcatheter embolization

The authors present a case of massive bleeding from duodenal varices documented by selective portography and successfully controlled by percutaneous embolization.

Hepatic lipomas: Ultrasound and computed tomographic findings

Five cases of solitary hepatic lipoma are described. These rare tumors have ultrasound (US) and computed tomographic (CT) characteristics that suggest the diagnosis. As imaged by US, hepatic lipomas always correspond to a highly echogenic, well-limited lesion with posterior attenuation. Precontrast CT scans reveal a low-density lesion (−20 to −70 HU); following contrast material injection, the tumor density may either remain negative (pure hepatic lipoma) or become positive (limit, 40 HU) when there is an associated adenomatous component. Hepatic lipomas involve no risk of degeneration, and follow-up by US is sufficient.A case of lipoma of the falciform ligament and a case of a hepatic pseudolipoma are also described; sonograms were negative in both instances, and CT was required for diagnosis.

Acute Budd-Chiari syndrome as first manifestation of adrenocortical carcinoma.

We report the case of a young woman in whom investigations for acute Budd-Chiari syndrome disclosed an hormone-secreting but clinically nonfunctioning adrenocortical carcinoma. We supply a very brief review of the literature.

Sonographic diagnosis of cholangitis in AIDS patients

Eleven acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients were initially evaluated by ultrasound of the liver because of biochemical evidence of cholestasis. Sonography was very useful for demonstrating dilatation and/or wall thickening of the common bile duct associated with dilated intrahepatic bile ducts. Periportal hypo- or hyperchoic areas were also visualized. In seven patients, gallbladder walls were thickened. In six patients, the diagnosis of cholangitis was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or histology. Cytomegalovirus infection or digestive tract cryptosporidiosis were often present and accounted for diarrhea in most patients.We believe the association of upper right quadrant pain and anicteric cholestasis in the course of AIDS is suggestive of cholangitis, but a disparity may exist between mild symptoms and sonographically demonstrated extensive biliary involvement.

Intraperitoneal splenosis: diagnosis by ultrasound and computed tomography.

Splenosis is an unusual complication of abdominal trauma. We report a case of splenosis identified on ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). Usually it is a latent disease and an incidental finding, but it may be diagnosed by US and CT.

Cholangiographic appearance simulating sclerosing cholangitis in metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver

Three patients with liver metastases and clinical and biochemical signs of cholestasis are reported in this study. In the three patients, cholangiography showed shifted and stretched intrahepatic bile ducts and multifocal strictures simulating intrahepatic primary sclerosing cholangitis. In two patients, histological examination showed periductal fibrosis or inflammation. Hepatic metastases should be included among the conditions considered to simulate intrahepatic primary sclerosing cholangitis during cholangiography.