angiography in liver disease

Last reviewed 01/2018

Angiography of the liver falls into three categories:

• angiography of the hepatic artery:
• selective angiography of the coeliac axis and hepatic artery is performed
• may delineate the abnormal vasculature of hepatic tumours

• angiography of the hepatic portal vein:
• contrast is injected directly into the spleen
• digital subtraction technique permit clear views of the portal system

• angiography of the hepatic vein:
• the hepatic vein is cannulated
• important in the diagnosis of the Budd-Chiari syndrome