A Clinico-Radiological Study of Portal Hypertension

To evaluate sonographic signs of portal hypertension

This cross sectional study comprised fifty cases suspected of having portal hypertension admitted in Pediatrics, Medicine and Surgery Departments of Muzaffarnagar Medical College between 01 September 2014 and 31 March 2015. All the patients were examined clinically and radiological investigations i.e. plain x-ray abdomen, barium swallow and ultrasound of abdomen were done in all cases along with splenovenography & computerised axial tomography in few selected cases.

Common clinical manifestation were anemia (84%) followed by splenomegaly (78%), hematemesis (40%), abnormal distension (36%), pain in abdomen (34%) and ascites (26%). Barium swallow showed presence of esophageal varices in 41 cases (82%). Sonography showed dilated portal vein in 68% cases and dilated splenic vein in 52% cases.

Modern gray scale ultrasound is a detailed, noninvasive method of demonstrating vascular networks in the abdomen including portal venous system, caliber of portal vein, portal vein invasion by tumour, portal vein thrombosis/aneurysm, in distinguishing pre-sinusoidal block from intra-hepatic and post-sinusoidal block and in demonstrating varices and collateral pathways.