Angiographic study of hepatolithiasis

Abstract

Angiograms obtained from 10 cases of hepatolithiasis were reviewed to know liver parenchymalchanges accompaning the disease. On arteriograms hypervascularity attributable to inflammationwas noted in 5 cases. The incidence of portal blood flow disturbance was well corelated with thatof bile duct deformity such as dilatation and/or stricture. When bile duct was not dilated theincidence of the flow disturbance in adjacent portal vein was 6.8%, however when dilatation ofthe ducts were moderate and marked the incidences were 50% and 86.4% respectively. In thegroups with absent, moderate and marked bile duct stricture, the incidences of portal blood flowdisturbance were 25.6, 66.7 and 100% respectively. Apparent hepatic lobar atrophy was notedin 7 cases. Marked shrinking or obstruction of portal vein within the lobe was found, howeverthe arterial blood flow was relatively well maintained.
The authors stressed that distubance of the regional portal blood flow is the inportant factoraffecting the hepatic and the biliary condition.