Dilatation of the inferior vena cava in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension: Causes and imaging findings

• Published in: Clinical imaging Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 48 - 53
• Main Authors: Wachsberg, Ronald H, Levine, Charles D, Maldjian, Pierre D, Simmons, Marc Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-01-1998; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity; Dilatation, Pathologic - diagnosis; Dilatation, Pathologic - etiology; Dilatation, Pathologic - physiopathology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Hypertension, portal; Hypertension, Portal - complications; Hypertension, Portal - diagnosis; Hypertension, Portal - physiopathology; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver, cirrhosis; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Radiography, Thoracic; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Vascular Resistance; Vena Cava, Inferior - diagnostic imaging; Venae cavae, abnormalities; Venae cavae, CT; Venae cavae, sonography; Venae cavae, CT; Venae cavae, abnormalities; Liver, cirrhosis; Venae cavae, sonography; Hypertension, portal; Sonography; Human; Portal circulation disease; Radiodiagnosis; Cardiovascular disease; Hepatic disease; Venous disease; Vascular disease; Cirrhosis; Dilatation; Cause; Echography; Portal hypertension; Digestive diseases; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Diagnosis; Inferior vena cava
• ISSN: 0899-7071; 1873-4499
• DOI: 10.1016/S0899-7071(97)00047-8

Dilatation of the inferior vena cava is a frequent finding in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and may be produced by various mechanisms. In this article we illustrate the spectrum of causes and appearances of inferior vena caval dilatation in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.