Correlation between portal blood iodine concentrations and radiographic visualization of the portal vein in arterial portography.

Portal blood iodine concentrations and the radiographic visualization of the portal vein were compared in five dogs (50 portograms). The portal blood iodine concentrations required for a certain degree of portal vein opacification varied considerably. However, an overall significant difference was found in the portal blood iodine concentrations of different degrees of portal vein visualization. An increase in the portal blood iodine concentrations from 0 to 30 mg per ml was associated with an overall improvement of the portal vein visualization. With a blood iodine concentration of 30 mg per ml, an excellent visualization of the portal system was always achieved that could no longer be improved by further increasing the portal blood iodine concentration up to 50 mg per ml. For a reliable diagnostic visualization of portal vein contributaries and branches, a blood iodine concentration of 30 mg per ml appears required; whereas for the visualization of the larger portal vein, 15 mg per ml appears sufficient.