Imaging features of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome or veno-occlusive disease in children
- Open Access
- 03.11.2021
- Pictorial Essay
Abstract
Introduction
No limitation for time of onset of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome | |
The presence of two or more of the following: | |
• Unexplained consumptive and transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia | |
• Otherwise unexplained weight gain on 3 consecutive days despite the use of diuretics, or a weight gain >5% above baseline | |
• Hepatomegaly (best confirmed by imaging) above baseline value | |
• Ascites (best confirmed by imaging) above baseline value | |
• Rising bilirubin from a baseline value on 3 consecutive days or bilirubin ≥2 mg/dL within 72 h |
Ultrasonography
B-mode | Definition | Doppler | Definition | Elastography | definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hepatomegaly | More than 2 SD above normal for age [5] | Demodulation of portal vein flow | Disappearance of velocity variations with breathing [15] | Increased liver stiffness | Cutoff for increased liver stiffness is vendor and technique dependent |
Splenomegaly | >1-cm increase in size relative to baseline measurement [15] | Decrease in spectral density of portal vein flow | Decline in the amount of red cells in portal flow [15] | ||
Periportal edema | – | Portal vein flow | |||
Gallbladder wall edema | >6 mm [15] >10 mm [18] | Increased resistive index of the hepatic artery | >0.8 [19] >0.70 [16] | ||
Hepatic vein narrowing | <3 mm, measured at 2 cm from the inferior vena cava [15] | Hepatic artery peak systolic velocity | Common hepatic artery: 31 cm/s and 123 cm/s cutoffs for 78% sensitivity and 54% specificity in higher risk and lower risk groups, respectively a,b Left hepatic artery: 35 cm/s and 83 cm/s cutoffs for 74% sensitivity and 70% specificity in higher risk and lower risk groups, respectively [20] a,b | ||
Increased portal vein diameter | Congestion index | Cross-section area of portal vein divided by average blood flow velocity, <0.1 [15] | |||
Indistinct hepatic vein borders | – | Hepatic vein flow | |||
Ascites | Minimal, moderate or need for external drainage [1] Mild: minimal fluid by liver, spleen or pelvis Moderate: <1 cm fluid. Severe: fluid in all three regions, >1 cm in ≥2 regions [5] | Visualization of collateral veins |
Computed tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
Follow-up
Preclinical predictors | Acute (days) | Subacute (weeks) | Longer term (months–years) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
US | Doppler: Increased velocities in portal vein, hepatic artery and/or hepatic veins can precede clinical symptoms of SOS/VOD | Doppler: Portal vein: -Usually a normal flow direction -Increased pulsatility, decreased respiratory variations -(Segmental) flow reversal possible -Increased, normal or decreased velocity Increased peak systolic velocity and elavated resistive index of hepatic artery Hepatic veins: -Increased, normal or decreased peak systolic velocities -Loss of triphasic flow pattern Paraumbilical vein collaterals present | Doppler: -Complete spectrum of portal vein flow abnormalities can be seen, including reversed flow direction -Gradual normalizing of elevated velocity and restrictive index of the hepatic artery -Gradual normalizing of flow velocities and flow pattern -Paraumbilical vein collaterals diminish | Doppler: Normalizes |
B-mode: Gradual onset of: -hepatomegaly -gallbladder wall edema -periportal edema -ascites -congested heterogeneous appearance of liver parenchyma | B-mode: -Hepato(spleno)megaly -Gallbladder wall edema -Periportal edema -Ascites -Hepatic vein narrowing -Visualization of collaterals -Congested heterogeneous appearance of liver parenchyma | B-mode: -Hepato(spleno)megaly -Gallbladder wall edema -Periportal edema -Hepatic artery hypertrophy -Ascites -Hepatic vein narrowing -Visualization of collaterals -Heterogeneous liver parenchyma | B-mode: -Heterogeneous liver parenchyma can persist -Other features normalize | |
Elastography: Increase from baseline | Elastography: Increase from baseline | Elastography: Increases | Elastography: Decreases/normalizes | |
CT | -Hepato(spleno)megaly -Gallbladder wall edema -Periportal edema -Hepatic vein narrowing -Hepatic artery hypertrophy -Ascites -Heterogeneous parenchyma attenuation pattern | -Heterogeneous liver parenchyma can persist -Other features normalize | ||
MRI | -Hepato(spleno)megaly -Gallbladder wall edema -Periportal edema -Ascites -T2 or post-contrast parenchymal heterogeneities | -Heterogeneous liver parenchyma can persist -Other features normalize | ||