Figure 24c.

Portal hypertension in a 53-year-old man with HCV infection and cirrhosis, which was diagnosed through the evaluation of the falciform ligament. (a) Transverse gray-scale US image of the fissure for the falciform ligament shows a smooth liver contour and absence of a dilated paraumbilical vein. (b, c) Follow-up gray-scale (b) and spectral Doppler (c) US images obtained 2 years later show an anechoic structure in the falciform ligament (arrow in b) with portal venous flow (c), a finding characteristic of a patent paraumbilical vein and indicative of portal hypertension. The patient had no other signs of portal hypertension.