Grayscale and pulsed Doppler characteristics of non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis: a preliminary report

AIM: Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis is a common cause of portal hypertension in India. Inspite of this there is no published data delineating the imagi ng findings in patients with this disease. The aim of this study was to eva luate Grayscale and pulsed Doppler findings of the portal venous system in non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Grayscale and Doppler sonography was performed on 19 patients with clinically and histologically proven non-cirrhotic portal fi brosis. Portal venous flow was determined along with the portal venous diam eter, congestive index of the portal vein, and the splenic index. Twenty no rmal control subjects were also studied. RESULTS: Doppler analysis revealed features of portal hypertension, These i ncluded increased portal venous dow, and congestive index (1062.1 +/- 199.7 vs 724.4 +/- 181.2; and 0.140 +/- 0.070 vs 0.049 +/- 0.011 respectively) w hen compared with the control group. Increased splenic index and dilatation of the portal venous diameter was also present (116.4 +/- 29.8 vs 45.8 +/- 7.0; and 14.3 +/- 1.5 vs 10.3 +/- 1.1 respectively), Grayscale findings de monstrated echogenic and thickened intrahepatic portal venous branches in 1 0 cases. Subcapsular atrophy of the liver was seen in three cases. Varices were identified in 15 cases. CONCLUSION: Patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis have features of po rtal hypertension at the time of presentation. Ultrasonic findings that inc lude echogenic, thickened portal venous tracts and subcapsular liver atroph y were frequently observed in such cases and were not seen in the control g roup.