Learning objectives
To describe the imaging features of the various thoracic and abdominal extrahepatic complications in patients with chronic liver disease
To know how imaging influences treatment and follow up of these patients
Background
Liver cirrhosis is an important health problem.
It is a common disease and final common pathway for many liver diseases.
Cirrhosis is characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis,
scar tissue and regenerative nodules leading to loss of liver function.It is generally irreversible and treatment usually focuses on preventing progression and complications.
Patients with chronic liver disease exhibit various pulmonary and abdominal complications and imaging plays an important role in their diagnosis.
Computer tomography (CT) is especially useful in the evaluation of these complications....
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
The liver plays a central role in organism homeostasis and metabolism and it has important interactions with every organ system,
that is why patients with chronic liver disease exhibit various pulmonary and abdominal complications.
We review and illustrate the most important complications of cirrhosis.
These complications include hepatopulmonary syndrome,
portopulmonary hypertension,
intrathoracic portosystemic collateral vessels,
bacterial infections,
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pleural effusion.
Possible abdominal complications include bleeding from esophageal and gastric varices, splenic infarction and splenomegaly,
ascites,
bacterial peritonitis,
collateral vessels and...
Conclusion
The aim is to provide a general review of CT manifestations of the wide spectrum of complications that cirrhosis can cause.
Precise knowledge and accurate reporting of the findings at CT are fundamental for clinical decision and management of these patients.
Personal Information
E.
Canales Lachén; B.
Díaz Barroso; D.
Mollinedo; M.C.
Pulido Rozo; S.
Martín Pérez; C.
Rubio Hervás; A.
Teruel López Zurita
Department of Radiology
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Madrid - SPAIN
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