Liver & intrahepatic bile ducts

Vascular disorders

Portal hypertension



Last author update: 8 January 2021
Last staff update: 11 January 2021

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PubMed Search: Portal hypertension[TI] liver[TI] free full text[sb]pathology


Raul S. Gonzalez, M.D.
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Cite this page: Gonzalez R. Portal hypertension. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/liverportalhypertension.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Increased blood pressure within portal venous system
Essential features
  • Causes are numerous and can be divided into prehepatic, intrahepatic and posthepatic
  • Cirrhosis is most common cause
Terminology
  • Patients without cirrhosis typically are labeled with "noncirrhotic portal hypertension"
Etiology
Clinical features
  • Clinical complications include ascites, portosystemic venous shunts (hemorrhoidal veins, esophageal varices, etc.), congestive splenomegaly, hepatic encephalopathy
Diagnosis
  • Gold standard is measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient via portal vein catheterization
  • Ultrasound is noninvasive and can detect signs of portal hypertension
Microscopic (histologic) description
Microscopic (histologic) images

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Idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension

Sample pathology report
  • Liver, biopsy:
    • Liver with prominent nodular regenerative hyperplasia (see comment)
    • Comment: The finding likely explains the patient’s reported portal hypertension. A reticulin stain confirms nodular regenerative hyperplasia. Trichrome and iron stains are unremarkable.
Board review style question #1
    A patient is found to have portal hypertension in the absence of cirrhosis. Considering the most common overall cause of noncirrhotic portal hypertension, which of the following is most likely to be seen on liver biopsy?

  1. Herniated portal veins
  2. Mastocytosis
  3. Nodular hepatocyte parenchyma
  4. Parasite eggs
  5. Sinusoidal fibrosis
Board review style answer #1
D. Parasite eggs: schistosomiasis is the most common cause of noncirrhotic portal hypertension in the world

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Reference: Portal hypertension
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