Multiphase multidetector‐row CT reveals different patterns of hepatic portal venous gas and pneumobilia

Abstract

Hepatic portal venous gas and pneumobilia (PB) are uncommon findings, indicating the accumulation of gas in the portal vein and its branches and in the biliary tree, respectively. Aims of this retrospective, descriptive study were to describe the computed tomographic (CT) features and visualization techniques of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and PB in a group of small animal veterinary patients. The CT data of patients with HPVG and PB were retrospectively reviewed. Thin-section multiplanar reformatting and minimum intensity projection (MinIP) views were used to assess the acquired volume dataset. The CT features recorded were as follows: amount, aspect, distribution, and localization of the gas in the liver. Five patients were included (four dogs and one cat), two presenting HPVG and three with PB. Gas in HPVG presented a peripheral location, whereas in PB was characterized by a central location. The aspect of the gas was tubular in case of HPVG and mixed tubular and rounded in PB. An analogous number of animals between the two groups showed comparable amount (mild, moderate, and severe) and distribution (diffuse and focal). Thin-section CT can detect the presence of gas in the liver, and a combination of two-dimensional and thin-slab MinIP can differentiate between HPVG and PB in dogs and cats. The distinctive features are peripheral versus central location and tubular versus rounded aspect of the gas.

Creation of Three-Dimensional Anatomical Vascular and Biliary Models for the Study of the Feline Liver (Felis silvestris catus L.): A Comparative CT, Volume Rendering (Vr), Cast and 3D Printing Study

“…Gaschen [1] highlighted the complementarity of CT and MRI with radiology and ultrasonography to standardize liver studies in healthy and diseased dogs and cats. Cordella and Bertolini [12] described the computed tomographic (CT) features and visualization techniques of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) and pneumobilia (PB) in a group of small animal veterinary patients and Larson [2] underlined the use of ultrasound as a valuable noninvasive imaging modality for the evaluation of liver and biliary diseases. Other studies, such as Soler et al [3], described three different imaging techniques (radiography, ultrasonography and CT) for identifying an accessory liver lobe in dogs and cats [13,14] and only in cats [15], respectively.…”

Bezoar as a cause of portal vein pneumatosis: a case report

“…Therefore, on abdominal CT and X-ray examinations, the presence of a branched transparent substance within 2 cm of the liver capsule can be used to diagnose HPVG. 18,19 In 1978, HPVG was first detected on a routine plain abdominal film. 20 However, this diagnostic method has certain major drawbacks.…”