hepatic and biliary disorders
Imaging Tests of the Liver and Gallbladder
Doppler ultrasonography
This noninvasive method is used to assess direction of blood flow and patency of blood vessels around the liver, particularly the portal vein. Clinical uses include Detecting Portal Hypertension (eg, indicated by significant collateral flow and the direction of flow, increased diameter of the portal vein to Assessing the patency of liver shunts (eg, surgical portacaval, percutaneous transhepatic) Evaluating portal vein patency before Liver Transplantation and detecting hepatic artery thrombosis after transplantation Evaluating hepatic vein patency ( Budd-Chiari Syndrome ) Detecting unusual vascular structures (eg, cavernous transformation of the portal vein) Assessing tumor vascularity before surgery 