Demonstration of Splenic and Portal Veins at Routine Celiac Angiography

The demonstration of splenic and portal veins during routine celiac angiography was prospectively investigated and blindly scored in 25 patients. Two identical angiographic series were performed with randomized intraindividual injections of either metrizoate 280 mg I/ml and ioxaglate 280 mg I/ml or metrizoate 370 mg I/ml and ioxaglate 320 mg I/ml. The splenic and portal veins were significantly better demonstrated when ioxaglate 280 mg I/ml was used, compared with metrizoate 280 mg/ml. No significant difference was found between metrizoate 370 mg I/ml and ioxaglate 320 mg I/ml. Ioxaglate and metrizoate adequately demonstrated the splenic veins but ioxaglate did so at a lower iodine concentration. A slower transcapillary diffusion rate combined with a lower osmolality of ioxaglate compared with metriozate is considered the major explanation for the better demonstration of the veins.

Tumor Vessels and Contrast Enhancement of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Demonstrated by Percutaneous Transhepatic Portography

A patient with an Edmondson type I—II hepatocellular carcinoma had, at celiac angiography, a poor arterial supply but a rich portal supply as observed at percutaneous transhepatic portography, an observation not previously reported in this disease. The importance of demonstrating the vascular supply of the tumor previous to planned intravascular treatment is obvious.