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Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy
Published on: June 18, 2020
Anatomic Variations of the Right Portal Vein: Prevalence, Imaging Features, and Implications for Successful
Senthil S Gunasekaran1, Ron C Gaba1
1Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Abstract:
Given the widespread use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation for the treatment of portal hypertensive complications, a working knowledge of portal venous anatomy is critical for interventional radiologists. The right portal vein - which is most commonly accessed during TIPS - is subject to various anatomic variants that may potentially impact procedure success. This pictorial essay characterizes the anatomic patterns of the right portal vein branching in terms of type and frequency based on case series review. The work also explains the potential procedural implications of the right portal vein anatomic variations as they pertain to TIPS technical success.

