Editorial
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Radiol. Sep 28, 2011; 3(9): 215-223
Published online Sep 28, 2011. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v3.i9.215
MDCT, MR and interventional radiology in biliary atresia candidates for liver transplantation
Roberto Miraglia, Settimo Caruso, Luigi Maruzzelli, Marco Spada, Silvia Riva, Marco Sciveres, Angelo Luca
Roberto Miraglia, Settimo Caruso, Luigi Maruzzelli, Angelo Luca, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Marco Spada, Department of Transplantation Surgery, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Silvia Riva, Marco Sciveres, Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Author contributions: Miraglia R wrote the paper and performed interventional radiology procedures; Caruso S and Maruzzelli L performed literature research and diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures; Spada M, Riva S and Sciveres M performed patients’ surgical and clinical management; Luca A performed interventional radiology procedures and reviewed the final version of the paper.
Correspondence to: Roberto Miraglia, MD, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies, Via Tricomi 1, 90127 Palermo, Italy. rmiraglia@ismett.edu
Telephone: +39-091-2192111 Fax: +39-091-2192344
Received: March 2, 2011
Revised: July 18, 2011
Accepted: July 25, 2011
Published online: September 28, 2011
Abstract

The multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan and magnetic resonance (MR) of the abdomen play a key role in the work-up to liver transplantation (LT) by identifying congenital anomalies or cirrhosis-related modifications, conditions that can require changes in surgical technique. Moreover, the MDCT and MR scans allow identification of cirrhotic liver hepatic masses, extrahepatic porto-systemic shunts, eventual thrombosis of portal system and radiological signs of portal hypertension associated with biliary atresia (BA). The aim of this paper is to review MDCT, MR imaging and interventional radiology procedures performed to evaluate morphological changes and degree of portal hypertension in pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease secondary to BA, who are candidates for LT. Advances in the field of MR, MDCT and in percutaneous minimally invasive techniques have increased the importance of radiology in the management of pediatric patients with BA who are candidates for LT.

Keywords: Portal hypertension, Imaging, Children, Cholangiopathy, Transplant