Abstract
To evaluate the ultrsonic findings of intrahepatic portal vein in liver diseases with diffuse lesion, abdominal ultrasonogram was retrospectively analyzed in 100 cases who underwent peritoneoscopy and liver biopsy. Peritoneoscopic findings were expressed using Shimada's code number system. Intrahe-patic portal echograms at left transverse and umbilical portion were demonstrated by the electric real time scanner and patterns of echogram were classified into three as follows. (1) Blurring (-): Echogram with thin and well defined portal vein wall and echo-free portal cavity. (2) Blurring (+): Echogram with thick and blurred portal vein wall and echo-free portal cavity. (3) Blurring (++) : Echogram with thick and blurred portal vein wall and portal cavity filled with dense echo spots. Results and conclusion: (1) All of echograms with normal liver were blurring (-), and all of liver cirrhosis were blurring (+) or (++). Especially in every case of code No. 500, dome-shaped nodular surface being observed peritoneoscopically, echo pattern was blurring (++). (2) Intrahepatic portal echogram had a tendency to change from blurring (-) to (+) and from (+) to (++) when cirrhotic nodule formation appeared and developed, respectively. (3) No fixed portal echo pattern was obtained in cases with acute hepatitis and fatty liver. Intrahepatic portal echogram was confirmed to be useful to diagnose chronic liver disease, especially liver cirrhosis.
