Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026
A Flow Adhesion Assay to Study Leucocyte Recruitment to Human Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelium Under Conditions of Shear Stress
Published on: March 21, 2014
Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation
Giuseppe Brancatelli1, Alessandro Furlan2, Alberto Calandra3
1Section of Radiological Sciences, Department of Biopathology and Medical Biotechnologies, Di.Bi. Med, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy. gbranca@yahoo.com.
Insights
Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation, an enlargement of liver capillaries, often stems from venous outflow obstruction. However, it can also occur with extrahepatic inflammation, impacting liver parenchyma.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Hepatology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation involves enlarged hepatic capillaries.
- It is frequently caused by hepatic venous outflow obstruction, leading to vascular stasis and hepatic parenchyma congestion.
- Causes include pericardial disease, heart failure, hepatic vein or inferior vena cava compression/thrombosis (Budd-Chiari syndrome), and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the imaging characteristics of hepatic sinusoidal dilatation.
- To differentiate causes of hepatic sinusoidal dilatation based on imaging findings.
- To explore associations between hepatic sinusoidal dilatation and both intrahepatic and extrahepatic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging studies.
- Analysis of hepatic and extrahepatic imaging features.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical conditions.
Main Results:
- Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation typically presents as a mottled, reticular "mosaic" liver enhancement pattern on contrast-enhanced imaging.
- Dilated hepatic veins and ascites are additional imaging indicators.
- Extrahepatic inflammatory conditions can cause hepatic sinusoidal dilatation without venous outflow obstruction.
Conclusions:
- Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation has characteristic imaging features on cross-sectional studies.
- Imaging findings, including the "mosaic" pattern and associated features, aid in diagnosing the cause.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for differentiating between venous outflow obstruction and inflammatory causes.
Abstract:
Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation refers to the enlargement of the hepatic capillaries. Most of the time this condition is caused by hepatic venous outflow obstruction, which results in vascular stasis and congestion of hepatic parenchyma. In this setting, hepatic sinusoidal dilatation can be related to pericardial disease, heart failure, compression or thrombosis of the hepatic veins or inferior vena cava (i.e., Budd-Chiari syndrome) or central veins/sinusoids involvement (i.e., sinusoidal obstruction syndrome). Nevertheless, some extrahepatic inflammatory conditions (such as pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, pneumonia, pancreatitis, intestinal bowel disease, and others) may be associated with hepatic sinusoidal dilatation without concurrent venous outflow obstruction. On contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging, hepatic sinusoidal dilatation is typically characterized by a mottled, reticular enhancement of the liver, usually referred to as "mosaic" pattern. Other hepatic and extrahepatic imaging features, such us the dilatation of the hepatic veins or the presence of ascites, can help in identifying the cause of sinusoidal dilatation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18Sinusoidal Sources
In homes, the power supplies use sinusoidal sources to provide electricity. These sources generate a voltage that varies sinusoidally...
01:18Exponential and Sinusoidal Signals
01:30Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
01:20Graphical and Analytic Representation of Sinusoids
The first step is measuring the peak-to-peak value, which is twice the amplitude of the sinusoid. This provides information about the maximum voltage swing of the waveform.
Secondly, the period and angular frequency are determined. The period is the time taken for one complete cycle of the waveform, while...
01:08Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
01:21Hepatic 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...