Normative Dimensions of Portal and Systemic Intraabdominal Veins of Children on CT

Abstract

Background: Chronic liver diseases cause portal hypertension resulting in portal vein enlargement. Vascular compression syndromes and the status of hydration of the body are determined by vein diameters. Objective: It is aimed to provide normative values of the major intraabdominal portal and systemic vein diameters in several age groups of children on contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography. Materials and Methods: 800 pediatric patients (468 male, 332 female) who were referred to the Radiology Department of our institution were enrolled. Age groups included 0-2, 3-5, 5-10, 10-15, and 15-18 years of life. The largest diameter of the major portal vein, right and left portal vein branches, superior mesenteric and splenic veins, right and left renal vein and vena cava inferior were measured. The ratios were also calculated right to left portal vein, right to the left renal vein and portal vein to vena cava inferior for age groups. Descriptive statistics of the data were expressed as means with standard deviation. The percentiles of vein diameters were calculated for all age groups. Differences in mean diameters among ages were compared with the ANOVA test. Differences among gender groups were analysed with independent samples t-test. Results: No statistically significant difference was found among gender groups (p:0.6). There have been statistically significant differences in mean diameters among consecutive age groups (p:0.001) for splanchnic and renal venous system and also vena cava. There has been a statistically significant positive correlation (p:0.001; r:0.5-0.79) of diameters with ages. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean ratios of vein diameters by age groups. Conclusions: Intraabdominal major vein diameters were not affected by gender. We provided a diameter range for several age groups. Age would be a reliable parameter to predict the diameters of major veins.