Congenital intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Hepatology

Background:

• Porto-hepatic venous shunting is a rare vascular anomaly.
• Previous cases have been associated with liver cirrhosis.
• Congenital causes are seldom reported.

Observation:

• An asymptomatic patient presented with an unusual intrahepatic shunt.
• Diagnostic imaging revealed a direct communication between a portal vein and a hepatic vein.
• The shunt involved a dilated portal vein segment.

Findings:

• Ultrasound with Doppler, computed tomography, and angiography confirmed the intrahepatic porto-hepatic venous shunt.
• No evidence of cirrhosis or trauma was detected in the patient.
• The vascular malformation was consistent with a congenital anomaly.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of porto-hepatic venous shunting etiologies.
• Highlights the importance of considering congenital anomalies in vascular malformations.
• Suggests a need for advanced imaging in diagnosing rare vascular conditions.