Doppler sonography of the native liver

Doppler sonography is being used routinely in evaluating the vascular struc tures of the native liver because of its ease of use, lower cost, easier av ailability, lack of need for X-ray and accuracy. Doppler sonography can wel l demonstrate the vascularization of liver tumors, portal vein thrombosis, portal vein abnormalities in patients with portal hypertension and hepatic venous findings in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome. The purpose of this article is to present information about Doppler sonography of the native li ver and to show its usefulness in the evaluation of hepatic vascular diseas es. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.