Portal thrombosis complicating appendicitis: ultrasound detection and hepatic computed tomography lobar attenuation alteration.

Lobar attenuation difference of liver on computed tomography was seen in a case of portal pyemia complicating perforated appendicitis. Left portal vein thrombus was detected first by ultrasound and subsequently confirmed by computed tomography. The left lobe of the liver showed greater contrast enhancement during the dynamic computed tomography study. The possible cause of this lobar attenuation difference is discussed.