Portal hypertension is an elevation of blood pressure within the portal venous system — the network of veins that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. It is most commonly caused by cirrhosis, which increases resistance to blood flow through the scarred liver. On Doppler ultrasound, sonographers look for several signs of portal hypertension including dilation of the portal vein (greater than 13 millimeters), slow or reversed (hepatofugal) portal venous flow, splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), the presence of portosystemic collateral vessels (varices), ascites, and recanalization of the umbilical vein. These findings help assess the severity of liver disease and guide management decisions. Ultrasound is the first-line imaging tool for evaluating suspected portal hypertension.
Sonography Term