Portal vein thrombosis: The role of imaging in the clinical setting

Abstract

Portal vein thrombosis is an infrequent condition occurring in several different clinical scenarios. In the last years it has been increasingly recognised due to the broad use of radiological methods. In this review we underline the central role of imaging in diagnosing portal vein thrombosis, in clarifying its etiology, choosing the best therapeutic approach and screening possible complications. Special attention is given to the role of imaging to differentiate portal vein thrombosis from neoplastic invasion of the portal vein, and to new diagnostic methods available for clinical practice in this field.

Keywords: Cavernoma; Cirrhosis; Neoplastic invasion; Thrombophilia; Ultrasound.