Portosystemic collateral shunts originating from the left portal veins in portal hypertension: demonstration by color Doppler flow imaging.

Color Doppler flow imaging was performed in 121 patients with portal hypertension. Portosystemic collateral shunts originating from the left portal veins were seen in 41 of the patients. A single collateral shunt was seen in 27 of these, and multiple collateral shunts were seen in the other 14. Collateral shunts running in the ligamentum teres were seen in 26 of the 41 patients; the veins ran through the liver parenchyma in 25 of these. B-mode ultrasound imaging could not clearly demonstrate vascular structures in 55% of the collateral shunts. Color Doppler flow imaging provided a clear picture of the course of the portosystemic collateral shunts originating from the left portal vein.