Contrast‐Enhanced Sonography for Diagnosing Collateral Transformation of the Hepatic Artery After Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Collateral transformation of the hepatic artery in patients with hepatic artery complications after liver transplantation appears to have characteristic features on contrast-enhanced sonography, especially a reticulated or patchy enhancement pattern in the porta hepatis region during the arterial and early portal phases combined with the absence of the peripheral hepatic artery. Contrast-enhanced sonography may be a novel method for diagnosing hepatic artery collateral transformation, which may be a highly specific sign of hepatic artery thrombosis or stenosis.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for vascular diseases of the liver – current indications and open questions

“…This knowledge is usually generated by CT scans. Nevertheless, CEUS has also been performed for evaluation of hepatic artery complications after liver transplantation [52] and may be helpful in the detection of portal vein variants.…”

Meta-analysis of the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the detection of vascular complications after liver transplantation

“…Relevant data extracted from all 13 studies are summarized in table 1 (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Only two studies involved more than 100 cases for CEUS evaluation.…”