Clinical significance of periportal tracking on computed tomographic scan in patients with blunt liver trauma

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical significance of periportal tracking on computed tomography (CT) in patients with blunt liver trauma. The clinical records and CT findings of 88 patients were reviewed. Angiographic study revealed potential injury to portal triads in patients with periportal tracking on CT. Extrahepatic injuries beneath the liver were associated in 22 of 28 patients with periportal tracking and in 2 of 17 without periportal tracking (P < 0.01, chi-square = 16.38). Hepatic complications such as bile leak, biloma, hemobilia, and infected hematoma were evaluated separately in 43 patients treated conservatively and 45 patients treated surgically. The incidence of complications in patients with periportal tracking was significantly higher in both groups (nonoperative; P < 0.01, chi-square = 8.46 and operative; P < 0.01, chi-square = 8.48). We conclude that periportal tracking on CT implies injury to the subhepatic region and intrahepatic portal triads and that it requires careful examination for extrahepatic injuries in the initial management and late hepatic complications in the follow-up management.