Detecting biliary complications following liver transplantation with contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Figure 1 A 68-year-old male patient who had undergone piggyback liver transplantation for primary hepatocellular carcinoma was examined more than four months postoperatively. A: Two-dimensional ultrasound showed that the morphology and parenchymal echoes of the transplanted liver appeared normal, with no significant abnormalities. However, the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts were diffusely dilated, with the inner diameter of the widest part of the intrahepatic bile duct measuring 8.1 mm (indicated by the arrow); B: Intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound revealed Wedge-shaped stenosis at the common bile duct anastomosis and diffuse intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct dilation. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography later confirmed the diagnosis of anastomotic biliary strictures. Frequency of ultrasonic probe: 3.5 MHz; Contrast agent: SonoVue^® (Bracco).