An anomaly in persistent right umbilical vein of portal vein diagnosed by ultrasonography

AIM To detect the anomaly in the persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV) of portal vein (PV) with deviation of the ligamentum tere and left-sided gallbladder. METHODS A total of 5783 candidates for routine analysis were evaluated for hepatic vascular abnormalities by ultrasonography. RESULTS Ten candidates (0.17%) had a portal vein anomaly with a rightward-deviated ligamentum tere. The blood-flow velocity in the PRUV of the portal vein (17.7+/-3.0 cm/s) of the 10 cases was similar to that of the right anterior portal trunk (17.6+/-4.1 cm/s). However, the vessel diameter of the PRUV (eta12.4+/-4.4 mm) was larger than the right anterior portal trunk (eta6.1+/-0.9 mm). Therefore, flow volume in the anomalous portion (0.97+/-0.30 L/min) was more than that in the right anterior portal trunk (0.18+/-0.05 L/min). CONCLUSION The anomaly plays an important role in intra-hepatic PV flow.