Hepatic Encephalopathy due to Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt via Right Adrenal Vein in a Non-Cirrhotic Patient

Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt via the Right Adrenal Vein in an Asymptomatic Cirrhotic Patient

PURPOSE

Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (PSSs) draining to the inferior vena cava (IVC) via the right adrenal vein have been reported very rare and all the reported patients presented with hepatic encephalopathy. Here, we present a patient with intrahepatic PSS via the right adrenal vein diagnosed incidentally in the absence of encephalopathy.

CASE PRESENTATION

suspecting nodule on the ultrasound was examined by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 4 cm in diameter hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was detected. In addition to HCC, an abnormal shunt between the right posterior portal vein and the IVC via the right adrenal vein was also detected.

RESULTS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case with intrahepatic PSS via the right adrenal vein diagnosed incidentally in the absence of encephalopathy and the fourth case with this abnormal shunt in English literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrahepatic PSS via the right adrenal vein is seen very rare. It may be asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis but has the potential to cause various problems later on, especially hepatic encephalopathy. The radiologist must be aware about this abnormal shunt.