Journal Article

Does portal vein anatomy influence intrahepatic distribution of metastases from colorectal cancer?

Tribolet, Anaïs, Barat, Maxime, Soyer, Philippe, Marchese, Ugo, Hardwigsen, Jean, Nassar, Alexandra, Aissaoui, Mathilde, Fuks, David, Gaillard, Martin, Tzedakis, Stylianos

2024

Overview

Other than location of the primary colorectal cancer (CRC), a few factors are known to influence the intrahepatic distribution of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). We aimed to assess whether the anatomy of the portal vein (PV) could influence the intrahepatic distribution of CRLM. Patients with CRLM diagnosed between January 2018 and December 2022 at two tertiary centers were included and imaging was reviewed by two radiologists independently. Intra-operator concordance was assessed according to the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The influence of the diameter, angulation of the PV branches and their variations on the number and distribution of CRLM were compared using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson's Chi-square and Spearman's correlation tests. Two hundred patients were included. ICC was high (> 0.90, P < 0.001). Intrahepatic CRLM distribution was right-liver, left-liver unilateral and bilateral in 66 (33%), 24 (12%) and 110 patients (55%), respectively. Median number of CRLM was 3 (1-7). Type 1, 2 and 3 portal vein variations were observed in 156 (78%), 19 (9.5%) and 25 (12%) patients, respectively. CRLM unilateral or bilateral distribution was not influenced by PV anatomical variations (P = 0.13), diameter of the right (P = 0.90) or left (P = 0.50) PV branches, angulation of the right (P = 0.20) or left (P = 0.80) PV branches and was independent from primary tumor localisation (P = 0.60). No correlations were found between CRLM number and diameter (R: 0.093, P = 0.10) or angulation of the PV branches (R: 0.012, P = 0.83). PV anatomy does not seem to influence the distribution and number of CRLM.

• Publisher: Sciendo,De Gruyter Brill Sp. z o.o., Paradigm Publishing Services,Association of Radiology and Oncology
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Anatomy / Cancer / Colorectal cancer / Colorectal carcinoma / colorectal liver metastases / Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging / Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology / Correlation coefficient / Correlation coefficients / Female / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Liver / Liver - anatomy & histology / Liver - blood supply / Liver - diagnostic imaging / Liver - pathology / Liver cancer / Liver Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging / Liver Neoplasms - secondary / liver topography / Male / Medical imaging / Metastases / Metastasis / Middle Aged / portal flow / portal variations / Portal vein / Portal Vein - anatomy & histology / Portal Vein - diagnostic imaging / portal vein anatomy / Radiology / Retrospective Studies / Statistical analysis / Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Variation