Portal vein thrombosis after percutaneous ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma: value of color Doppler sonography in distinguishing chemical and tumor thrombi.

Abstract

Our study shows that color Doppler sonography is a reliable way to differentiate between chemical and tumor thromboses of the portal vein in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas treated by ethanol injection. When the sonogram shows pulsatile arterial flow within the thrombus, percutaneous biopsy of the thrombus is unnecessary. The finding is always indicative of malignant thrombosis.