Diagnostic Ultrasound - Abdomen and Pelvis

Biliary System
LEFT INTRAHEPATIC DUCTS
Anatomy: Abdomen
Portal venous branch
Left hepatic lobe
Intrahepatic duct
Inferior vena cava
Aorta
Left hepatic lobe
Portal venous branch
Intrahepatic ducts
(Top) Transverse ultrasound through the left hepatic lobe in a patient with biliary obstruction demonstrates dilated left intrahepatic
bile ducts. Normally, intrahepatic ducts are not readily visualized unless they are dilated. (Bottom) Transverse color Doppler ultrasound
through the left hepatic lobe in a patient with biliary obstruction demonstrates dilated left intrahepatic bile ducts. Normally,
intrahepatic ducts are not readily visualized unless they are dilated. Color Doppler ultrasound is helpful to determine whether the
dilated structure is vascular or biliary, as dilated hepatic arteries can be mistaken for dilated bile ducts. The absence of flow allows one
to determine that these are biliary in origin.
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