Diagnostic Ultrasound - Abdomen and Pelvis

Biliary System
Anatomy: Abdomen
RIGHT INTRAHEPATIC DUCTS
Intrahepatic bile duct
Portal vein
Intrahepatic bile duct
Right hepatic lobe
Portal vein
Inferior vena cava
Intrahepatic duct
Posterior branch of right
portal vein
Main portal vein
(Top) Transverse ultrasound through the right hepatic lobe in a patient with biliary obstruction demonstrates dilated right intrahepatic
bile ducts. Normally, intrahepatic ducts are not readily visualized unless they are dilated. Parallel linear hypoechoic structures are not
normally seen in the liver, and this may represent a dilated bile duct or dilated hepatic artery adjacent to the normally visualized portal
venous structure in the portal triad. (Bottom) Transverse color Doppler ultrasound through the right hepatic lobe in a patient with
biliary obstruction demonstrates dilated right intrahepatic bile ducts. Normally, intrahepatic ducts are not readily visualized unless they
are dilated. Color Doppler ultrasound helps to determine whether the dilated structure is a dilated hepatic artery or dilated bile duct.
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