Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Contrast-Enhanced Subharmonic Aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE) Using Ultrasound Imaging with a Focus on Identifying Portal Hypertension
Published on: December 5, 2020
Power Doppler sonography of hepatocellular carcinomas with portal-vein blood supply
K Tohara1, S Sakaguchi, Y Miyajima
1Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, 377-1 Zokumyoin, Chikushino 818-8502, Japan.
Abstract:
We report the power Doppler imaging (PDI) findings in 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a portal-vein blood supply. Gray-scale sonography in both cases showed a well-circumscribed nodule, hypoechoic in case 1 and hyperechoic in case 2. PDI revealed an afferent tumor vessel with constant flow in both nodules, and CT during arterial portography demonstrated a portal-vein supply to both nodules. The nodules were diagnosed by percutaneous core biopsies as highly differentiated HCC. We also examined with PDI another 64 patients with 76 HCC nodules, and none of the nodules showed a constant-flow afferent tumor vessel. The presence of a constant-flow afferent tumor vessel indicates a supplying portal vein; but this is not diagnostic of HCC, and biopsy remains necessary to establish a final diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Portal Hypertension
Hepatic Portal System
At its core, the hepatic portal vein is the result of a confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins along with the splenic vein. Each of these veins has a unique role. The superior mesenteric vein is responsible...
