CONGENITAL ABSENCE OF THE PORTAL-VEIN - CASE-REPORT AND MR DEMONSTRATION

Congenital absence of the portal vein (CAPV) is a rare anomaly that re sults from aberrant venous development in early embryonic life. The in testinal and splenic venous drainage bypasses the liver and drains dir ectly into the inferior vena cava (IVC), the left renal vein, or the l eft hepatic vein. We describe a case where prenatal ultrasonography de monstrated an unusual C-shaped vessel between the umbilical vein and a dilated IVC, and failed to show a portal vein. Ultrasonography and ma gnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography at 4 month s of age again found no portal vein. The superior mesenteric vein drai ned into the left renal vein.