Hepatic tumor angiography: a subject review.

Abstract

The dual blood supply of the normal [human] hepatic parenchyma and the single arterial supply of hepatic neoplasms are important factors in the interpretation of celiac and hepatic arteriograms. Depending on whether the hepatic artery, portal vein or both are opacified, 3 types of hepatogram can occur: arterial, portal or mixed. On the celiac arteriogram, the densely opacified hepatic parenchyma makes the less well opacified tumor appear relatively hypovascular; and conversely, on the hepatic arteriogram the nonopacified portal flow has a wash-out effect on the normal parenchyma so that the neoplasm remains hypervascular. Most hepatic neoplasms are hypervascular on the hepatic arteriogram, and conversion of a hypervascular tumor to a hypovascular one is indicative of its response to treatment.