Periportal halo: a CT sign of liver disease. Abdom Imaging 1993;18(1):42-6
Date
01/01/1993Pubmed ID
8431693DOI
10.1007/BF00201700Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0027173008 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 52 CitationsAbstract
Periportal halos are defined as circumferential zones of decreased attenuation identified around the peripheral or subsegmental portal venous branches on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). These halos probably represent fluid or dilated lymphatics in the loose areolar zone around the portal triad structures. While this CT finding is nonspecific, it is abnormal and should prompt close scrutiny of the liver in search of an underlying etiology. Periportal halos which may be due to blood are commonly seen in patients with liver trauma. Periportal edema may cause this sign in patients with congestive heart failure and secondary liver congesion, hepatitis, or enlarged lymph nodes and tumors in the porta hepatis which obstruct lymphatic drainage. This CT sign has also been observed in liver transplants (probably secondary to disruption and engorgement of lymphatic channels) and in recipients of bone marrow transplants who might develop liver edema from microvenous occlusive disease. While the precise pathophysiologic basis of periportal tracking has not been proven, it represents a potentially important CT sign of occult liver disease.
Author List
Lawson TL, Thorsen MK, Erickson SJ, Perret RS, Quiroz FA, Foley WDAuthor
Scott J. Erickson MD Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
HumansLiver
Liver Diseases
Tomography, X-Ray Computed