Introduction. Liver diseases with disturbances of hepatic and splanchnic
circulation lead to the portal hypertension, with or without a portal vein
thrombosis. Objective. This study was based on the testing of hypothesis that
more data and more precise diagnosis in patients with disorders of portal
circulation can be obtained by using color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) and
computed tomography (CT) with contrast. Methods. The study was conducted from
February 2011 to May 2014 and it comprised 120 patients who were suspected to
have portal hypertension or already had clinical confirmation of the portal
hypertension, patients with hepatitis, and some patients with hematological
diseases. The first group of 40 patients was examined by conventional
ultrasonography and CDU, the second group by contrast CT, and the third group
of patients was examined by both methods (CDU and contrast CT). After six
months of adequate therapy, the patients had control examinations with the
same diagnostic technique used during their first examination. Results.
Retrospective analysis showed that CDU is more sensitive than CT in the
assessment of presence and age of thrombi (CDU 93.9%; CT 86.1%). CT gives
precise data in detection of portosystemic collaterals. Sensitivity of CT is
100% and its specificity is 67%. Cumulative sensitivity and specificity for
most parameters were increased in patients with portal hypertension when both
methods were applied. Conclusion. This study emphasizes the possibility of
early and more accurate diagnosis achieved when combining two radiological
techniques (CDU and contrast CT scan), which is not the case when these
methods are used separately.
The role of the color doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography in estimation of portal hypertension
