Retrograde pancreatic venography. An experimental study.

To explore the feasibility of retrograde pancreatic venography, transhepatic portal catherization via jugular and hepatic veins was performed in 10 dogs. Coaxially introduced catheters were then used to enter individual pancreatic veins for retrograde venography. Appropriate injection technique led to detailed visualization of the pancreatic venous system without anatomically evident injury to the pancreas. The (readily avoidable) injection of contrast agent through catheters wedged into pancreatic veins caused parenchymal extravasation and hemorrhagic pancreatitis. The detection of pancreatic cancer in patients not approachable by arteriography and the intensified search for small islet cell tumors are possible indications for pancreatic venography when the safety of this method is further demonstrated.