经皮门静脉栓塞治疗肝癌的临床应用

目的探讨经皮选择性门静脉右支栓塞(PVE)在肝癌治疗中的应用价值。方法12例无手术切除指征的中晚期肝癌患者,在电视透视引导下经导管行经皮穿肝或穿脾行PVE。栓塞前、后用CT测量左侧肝叶的体积,并测量栓塞前后的门静脉压力、肝功能。结果12例患者均成功行经皮PVE,栓塞术后左肝叶代偿增生明显,其中3例PVE后顺利实行右肝切除术。PVE后未出现门静脉高压,肝功能损害轻,均未发现并发症。结论经皮选择性PVE能诱导非栓塞侧肝叶代偿性增生及栓塞侧肝叶萎缩,增加肿瘤手术切除机会,提高手术切除的安全性,对于无法手术切除的肝癌患者重新获得手术切除的机会,具有潜在的临床应用价值。     

Hepatic lobar atrophy following obstruction of the ipsilateral portal vein from hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Gross deformity of the liver associated with hilar carcinoma is rare. In 17 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma and intrahepatic bile duct dilatation, the relationships between lobar or segmental atrophy, compensatory hypertrophy, and patency of portal vein branches were evaluated with computed tomography (CT) and angiography. All six patients with obstructed or narrowed portal veins (group A) had lobar or segmental atrophy on CT scans and angiograms. Compensatory hypertrophy was observed in the unaffected lobe with a patent portal vein in five. In contrast, neither hepatic atrophy nor hypertrophy was demonstrated in the other 11 patients with patent portal veins. All group A patients had differences in hepatic attenuation on CT scans or dense opacification during the hepatogram phase of angiography. Biliary decompression was optimized when the bile duct selected for percutaneous drainage paralleled a patent portal vein. Knowledge of radiologic findings will assist in determining the primary site along the bile duct from which carcinoma has arisen.     

Hepatic changes in benign obstruction of the hepatic inferior vena cava: CT findings.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe CT findings of changes in the liver associated with benign obstruction of the hepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For a 10-year period, 35 patients with benign obstruction of the hepatic IVC underwent contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen. These patients were included in this retrospective study. CT scans were analyzed for morphologic changes and abnormal enhancement of the liver, changes in intrahepatic vessels, and additional findings that might be related to obstruction of the IVC. RESULTS: Morphologic changes of the liver included hypertrophy of the caudate lobe (91%) and the left lobe (57%), atrophy of the right lobe (49%), and a nodular surface (74%). The most common pattern of attenuation change was areas of linear, irregular, or wedge-shaped hypoattenuation predominantly located in the peripheral portion of the liver (63%). Diffuse hypoattenuation was seen in six patients (19%) and was frequently found in areas in which hepatic veins filled with hypoattenuated thrombosis (67%). On CT, segmental IVC obstruction (80%) was seen as an obliterated segment of the hepatic IVC. However, membranous IVC obstruction (20%) was not seen on CT. The IVC below the level of obstruction was often revealed as rounded (89%) and occasionally contained thrombus (37%) or calcification (26%). CONCLUSION: CT shows a broad spectrum of morphologic and attenuation changes of the liver and of the hepatic vessels in benign obstruction of the hepatic IVC.     

Hepatic outflow obstruction: enhancement patterns of the liver on MR angiography

Our purpose was to present the enhancement patterns of the liver on MR angiography in patients with hepatic outflow obstruction. Twenty-three patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (4 in acute stage and 19 in chronic stage of the disease) were examined with 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography. During early and late portal venous phase of MR angiography the pattern of parenchymal enhancement was assessed on source images. The enhancement patterns were evaluated under 4 groups as following: (a) central (b) peripheral (c) patchy and (d) homogeneous enhancement. The morphologic changes in the liver (lobar hypertrophy or atrophy, hepatic surface irregularities) were also recorded. In the acute stage global liver enlargement (75%) with caudate hypertrophy (100%) and central enhancement of the liver (75%) were suggestive findings of the hepatic outflow obstruction. The left lobe hypertrophy (53%) associated with the caudate lobe hypertrophy (72%) and irregular surface (26%) were predominant in the chronic stage of the disease. The enhancement patterns seen in chronic disease were variable and reflected the persistent stasis of the portal blood flow (patchy enhancement in 32% of the patients) or the altered hemodynamics of the liver due to the development of subcapsular collaterals (peripheral enhancement in 21% of the patients). Homogeneous enhancement of the liver in Budd-Chiari syndrome may indicate the chronicity of the outflow obstruction (37%) and shows a more stable hepatic perfusion that occurs after the formation of intra and extrahepatic collateral veins. The morphological and perfusional features on multiphase contrast-enhanced MR angiography are valuable in understanding the effects of the hepatic outflow obstruction on the liver parenchyma.     

Portal vein occlusion or stenosis in patients with hepatolithiasis: observation by multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT

AIMS: To analyze the dynamic findings of multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT in hepatolithiasis and to elucidate occlusive changes in portal veins and other associated abnormalities. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 25 selected patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent various imaging examinations, including multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT. The following CT findings were evaluated in each of 71 hepatic segments: visualization of a calculus; biliary dilation or focal hepatic atrophy of the affected segment; areas that were abnormally enhanced in the hepatic arterial phase; degrees (normal, stenosis, occlusion) of portal vein calibre; and linear delayed enhancement along the bile-duct walls, suggesting cholangitis. RESULTS: On CT, calculi were depicted as a hyperdense structures in 61 of 71 segments (86%). Focal hepatic atrophy, which frequently accompanied CT findings suggesting compensatory hypertrophy of other segments, was seen in 50 of 71 segments (70%). Areas that were abnormally enhanced were recognized in 36 of 71 segments (51%). Stenosis or occlusion of portal venous branches was observed in 59 of 71 segments (83%), including 13 segments with occlusion. Findings indicating cholangitis were noted in 50 of 71 segments (70%). The degrees of portal vein calibre were significantly correlated with the presence of hepatic atrophy or cholangitis. CONCLUSION: Hepatolithiasis is associated with significant rates of stenosis or occlusion of adjacent portal veins as well as hepatic parenchymal changes in the affected area. Chronic deterioration of portal flow may cause these morphological changes.     

Atrophy-hypertrophy complex in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein: CT evaluation

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the morphologic changes in the liver associated with cavernous transformation of the portal vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was institutional review board approved. Informed patient consent was not required. The computed tomographic (CT) results for 22 patients (14 male, eight female; mean age, 54 years) with cavernous transformation of the portal vein and no evidence of chronic liver disease at liver biopsy were retrospectively reviewed and compared with the CT results for 36 control subjects. Various morphologic changes in the hepatic lobes were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed by using the Student t test for unpaired data. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed the atrophy-hypertrophy complex in most (n = 20, 91%) of the patients with cavernous transformation and in no control subjects. Atrophy of the left lateral segment and right liver lobe was seen in 16 (73%) and seven (32%) patients, respectively. Hypertrophy of the caudate lobe and liver segment IV was identified in 19 (86%) and 11 (50%) patients, respectively. All mean caudate lobe volume index values and mean caudate lobe-to-right lobe ratio values were significantly greater (P < .05) in the cavernous transformation group than in the control group. The mean segment IV diameter was significantly greater (41.6 vs 28.1 mm, P < .001) in the patients with cavernous transformation. Hepatic nodules and hepatic contour nodularity were not seen in the patients with cavernous transformation. CONCLUSION: The atrophy-hypertrophy complex is frequently observed in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein. Some findings, such as hypertrophy of the caudate lobe, mimic chronic liver disease or signs of portal hypertension, but left lateral segment atrophy and a normal or enlarged segment IV are distinctive findings of cavernous transformation.     

经肝动脉同时直接经门静脉联合介入治疗原发性肝癌

目的 比较同时经肝动脉、门静脉介入与肝动脉介入治疗原发性肝癌的临床疗效.方法 收集本院拟行原发性肝癌介入的患者48例,随机分为肝动脉组和双介入组,肝动脉组行常规肝动脉介入,双介入组行肝动脉、门静脉介入.比较2组术后临床有效率、肝脏体积、肝功能等情况.结果 至观察终点,双介入组有效率、肿瘤直径下降程度都优于肝动脉组;双介入组术后第1天、第3天转氨酶及胆红素等指标较肝动脉组高,术后第7天、第14天,2组无显著性差异;双介入组非栓塞侧体积与术前相比有不同程度增大,其中术后第4周最为明显.2组均未出现治疗相关死亡及严重不良反应.结论 肝动脉同时门静脉介入治疗能有效控制和缩小原发性肝癌,并能有效地诱导肝非栓塞叶代偿性增生,是安全有效的治疗方法.     

Course before and after percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization of a patient with cholangiocarcinoma monitored by scintigraphy with Tc-99m galactosyl human serum albumin

Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization (PTPE) causes atrophy of the embolized lobe and compensatory hypertrophy of the nonembolized lobe, and improves the safety of hepatectomy. We report a patient with cholangiocarcinoma who underwent embolization of both anterior and posterior branches of the right portal vein before hepatectomy. Scintigraphy with Tc-99m galactosyl human serum albumin was performed before and 4 weeks after PTPE. After PTPE, the right lobe of the liver was atrophied and the left lobe of the liver was enlarged, compared with before PTPE. The receptor index of the entire liver was almost unchanged before and after PTPE, but the right lobe receptor index after PTPE was 23% less than the pre-PTPE value, whereas the left lobe receptor index had increased 37%. Scintigraphy with Tc-99m galactosyl human serum albumin is useful for evaluating segmental functional reserve before and after PTPE.     

CT of hepatoma: effects of portal vein obstruction

CT images were studied in five patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with obstruction of branches of the portal vein. Two were solitary tumors located near the porta hepatis and were seen as low density areas. In addition noncancerous areas with impaired portal drainage also had lower densities than normally perfused areas. In one instance, gross and histologic studies performed on the resected specimen showed atrophy of hepatic tissue. The other three patients had disseminated tumors with multiple low density areas on CT. Additional low density areas were seen in patients with concomitant obstruction of branches of the portal vein. A decrease in portal blood flow will change the appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma of CT.     

Primary sclerosing cholangitis: MR imaging findings with pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate MR imaging findings of primary sclerosing cholangitis, to compare them with histopathologic findings, and to determine if these findings help differentiate primary sclerosing cholangitis from other disorders that result in end-stage liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging was performed in 40 patients (27 men, 13 women; age range, 13-72 years; mean, 47 years) with primary sclerosing cholangitis over a 9-year period. In 16 patients who underwent orthotopic hepatic transplantation and in seven patients who underwent needle biopsy, correlation was made between MR imaging and pathologic findings. RESULTS: Focal signal changes in the liver parenchyma were seen on T2-weighted images as peripheral wedge-shaped zones of increased signal intensity in 29 patients (72%), as a reticular pattern in 15 patients (38%), and as periportal edema in 16 patients (40%). Lobar atrophy involved the right lobe in three patients (8%) and the left lobe in 11 patients (28%); hypertrophy of the caudate lobe was seen in nine patients (23%). Features of portal hypertension were seen in 14 patients (35%). Histologic assessment showed zones of segmental atrophy and scarring on the periphery of the liver. CONCLUSION: Peripheral wedge-shaped areas of high T2 signal intensity and dilatation of bile ducts are characteristic MR features of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Pathologic correlation suggests that these features may be related to underlying perfusion changes and bile duct inflammation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.     

Compensatory hypertrophy of the liver after external beam radiotherapy for primary liver cancer

Purpose

We investigated whether external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) could induce compensatory liver hypertrophy in liver cancers and assessed related clinical factors.

Methods

A total of 82 consecutive patients receiving EBRT for hepatocellular carcinoma (n?=?77) or cholangiocarcinoma (n?=?5) from April 2012 to June 2014 were recruited and divided into two subgroups according to tumor location in the right or left lobe. The left lateral and right lobes were considered as unirradiated volumes accordingly. Total liver volume (TLV), nontumor liver volume (NLV), left and right lobe whole volume (LLWV and RLWV, respectively), volume of liver irradiated?<?30?Gy (V_<?₃₀?_Gy), Child–Pugh (CPS) score, future liver remnant (FLR) ratio, and percentage of FLR hypertrophy from baseline (%FLR) were assessed.

Results

In the right lobe group, %FLR hypertrophy and LLWV increased significantly at all follow-ups (p?<?0.001). %FLR hypertrophy steadily increased until the fourth follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed that the factor associated with maximum %FLR hypertrophy was tumor extent (upper or lower lobe vs. both lobes; p?=?0.022). Post-RT treatments including transarterial chemoembolization or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy were associated with a CPS increase?≥?2 (p?=?0.002). Analysis of the RT only subgroup also showed a significant increase of %FLR until the fourth follow-up (p?<?0.001). In the left lobe group, %FLR hypertrophy and RLWV showed no significant changes during follow-up.

Conclusion

Significant compensatory hypertrophy of the liver was observed, with a steady increase of %FLR hypertrophy until the fourth follow-up (median: 396 days). Locally advanced tumors extending across the upper and lower right lobe were a significant factor for compensating hypertrophy after EBRT.

     

Agenesis of the right lobe of the liver

In five patients with agenesis of the right lobe of the liver, computed tomography or sonography demonstrated absence of the right lobe with compensatory hypertrophy of other segments. In three patients, the caudate lobe was also absent. The radiologic differential diagnosis includes lobar atrophy due to cirrhosis or hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Nineteen other cases have been reported in the world literature since 1956. This interesting congenital anomaly may be associated with biliary tract disease (12 patients), portal hypertension (seven patients), and other congenital anomalies (four patients), or it may be an incidental finding (five patients).     

去胆管肝叶肝组织形态及功能变化的实验研究

目的观察大鼠肝叶胆管栓塞结扎后肝细胞形态及功能的变化,探讨去胆管肝叶的保留价值。方法应用氰基丙烯酸酯对仅保留肝右叶和方叶的大鼠行右叶胆道栓塞并结扎,制备去胆管肝叶,肝方叶不处理或行门静脉结扎作去门脉肝叶自身对照。通过分肝静脉血化验检查、组织学观察探讨肝细胞形态及功能的变化。结果与假手术对照组及自身未处理肝叶相比,去胆管肝叶萎缩不明显,超微结构变化不大。透射电镜观察发现去胆管肝叶肝细胞富含线粒体、核糖体及粗面内质网。PAS染色显示肝糖原代谢也无明显差别。分肝静脉血白蛋白及纤维蛋白原含量无明显减低。结论去胆管肝叶在观察期内无明显纤维化,仍保留有肝细胞蛋白质合成、分泌及营养物质代谢功能,提示去胆管肝叶具有保留价值。本实验为临床特殊情况下结扎或切除胆管而保留相应的肝脏组织提供了理论基础。     

Budd-Chiari syndrome: US evaluation

Twelve patients with proved Budd-Chiari syndrome (eight acute and four chronic cases) were examined, using real-time ultrasonography (US). In all acute cases, US study showed at least one hepatic vein with findings suggestive of the syndrome, such as stenosis, dilatation, thick wall echoes, thrombosis, abnormal course, or extrahepatic anastomosis. In chronic cases, hepatic veins were usually not visible. Modifications of liver morphology were present in all patients except those with recent onset of the disease. Caudate lobe hypertrophy was present in only six cases. US study is therefore the procedure of choice for initial diagnosis of acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. Pitfalls were the failure to detect two caval thromboses and one hepatic vein web. Cavography should still be performed systematically, but hepatic phlebography is useful in selected cases only.     

Oriental cholangiohepatitis: correlation between portal vein occlusion and hepatic atrophy.

The angiographic features of the hepatic vasculature in patients with oriental cholangiohepatitis and their relationship to liver atrophy remain unclear. We studied 11 patients with oriental cholangiohepatitis to define the spectrum of portal vein, bile duct, and parenchymal involvement by correlating findings on cholangiography, sonography, CT, and angiography. The portal veins appeared normal in five cases, pruned in four, and completely obstructed in two. This spectrum of appearances was found to correlate with the severity of liver atrophy. No massive arterioportal shunting was found in any patients in this series. The two patients with complete obstruction of the portal veins showed no evidence of malignancy at histologic examination of the resected specimen. It is concluded that the degree of portal vein obstruction correlates well with the degree of liver atrophy in patients with oriental cholangiohepatitis and that findings of complete central portal obstruction do not necessarily indicate associated malignancy.     

Portal vein embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles and coils in preparation for major liver resection for hepatobiliary malignancy: safety and effectiveness--study in 26 patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles and coils is safe and effective for inducing lobar hypertrophy in patients with hepatobiliary malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PVE was performed in 26 patients. All patients had malignancy: metastases (n = 11), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 9), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 5), and gallbladder carcinoma (n = 1). One patient had underlying liver disease caused by hepatitis. PVE was performed if the future liver remnant (FLR) was estimated to be less than 25% of the total liver volume. PVE was performed with a percutaneous transhepatic approach (right, 25 patients; left, one patient). PVA particles and coils were used to occlude the right portal system and veins supplying segment IV to promote FLR hypertrophy (segments I-III +/- IV). FLR hypertrophy was assessed with comparison of computed tomographic scans obtained before and 2-4 weeks after PVE. Effectiveness evaluation was based on changes in absolute FLR size and ratio of FLR to total estimated liver volume (TELV). Safety of PVE and hepatic resection was determined with postprocedure complication rate and median hospital stay. RESULTS: Sixteen patients underwent hepatic resection (right trisegmentectomy [n = 13], right lobectomy [n = 3]) without mortality. Ten patients did not undergo resection (complete remission after medical therapy [n = 1], lack of regeneration [n = 2], extrahepatic disease undetected prior to PVE [n = 7]). Six patients had biliary obstruction; five were treated percutaneously before PVE. No patient developed postembolization syndrome or signs of fulminant hepatic insufficiency after PVE or resection. Two patients had complications after PVE that did not preclude successful resection. Median hospital stays were 1 day (PVE) and 7 days (liver resection). Mean absolute FLR increased from 325.0 to 458.6 cm3 (increase, 41.1%). Mean TELV was 1,784.8 cm3. FLR/TELV ratio increase was 8%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative PVE with PVA particles and coils is safe and effective for inducing lobar hypertrophy in patients with advanced hepatobiliary malignancy.     

Assessment of future remnant liver regeneration after portal vein embolization using three-dimensional CT and MR volumetric analyses

The purpose of this study is to portray right portal vein embolization (PVE) as a valuable technique that helps in expanding the volume of the left liver lobe and discuss the relevant published work. We describe our experience with four patients who underwent PVE and analyse the value of CT and MRI in the preoperative evaluation of these patients. Four patients with hepatic malignancy (hepatocellular carcinoma) (n=2) and metastatic liver disease (n=2) underwent portal vein occlusion. PVE was carried out in three patients using polyvinyl alcohol and stainless steel coils. Portal vein ligation was carried out in the fourth patient. In patients who were candidates for right hepatectomy, CT volumetric analysis was carried out before the surgery to assess the total liver volume and the future remnant liver, which is the residual left hepatic volume (in cases of right hepatectomy) or left lateral segment volume (in cases of right tri-segmentectomy). Because the left lobe volumes were insufficient, patients were selected to undergo right PVE. Computed tomography volumetry was carried out 2-4 weeks after embolization to assess left hepatic lobe regeneration. Magnetic resonance volumetric analysis was carried out in two patients before and after embolization. All four patients had significant regeneration of the left lobe and tolerated the surgery with uneventful postoperative recovery.     

Unveiling the unreal: Comprehensive imaging review of hepatic pseudolesions

Hepatic pseudolesions are defined as non-neoplastic focal abnormalities of the liver which can mimic or conceal true liver lesions. It is particularly common in liver due to its unique dual blood supply and the existence of multilevel anastomosis between them. Because of the recent advances in CT and MRI technology, they are being increasingly encountered in daily practice. Broadly they can be categorised in to (1) Focal parenchymal abnormalities like focal fatty change, focal fat sparing, focal confluent fibrosis, segmental hypertrophy and regenerative nodules, (2) Perfusion abnormalities which include transient hepatic parenchymal enhancement in portal vein obstruction, third inflow, intrahepatic shunts, hepatic arterial occlusion and hepatic venous obstruction, (3) Imaging pitfalls like parenchymal compression, unenhanced vessels and pseudolipoma. It is essential for the radiologists to be familiar with the typical and atypical imaging features of pseudolesions to avoid mistaking them for sinister pathologies and also to avoid overlooking underlying hidden pathologies.     

99mTc galactosyl human serum albumin liver dynamic SPET for pre-operative assessment of hepatectomy in relation to percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization

We have devised an original predictive residual index (PRI) using 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) liver dynamic SPET for the pre-operative assessment of hepatectomy, including the prediction of residual liver function before hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the PRI by using 99mTc-GSA liver dynamic SPET before and after percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization (PTPE) to induce compensatory hypertrophy of the remnant lobe, and to compare the results with the prognosis after hepatectomy. The subjects included eight patients with cholangiocellular carcinoma, five with gallbladder cancer, four with hepatocellular carcinoma and three with metastatic liver cancer. 99mTc-GSA liver dynamic SPET was performed immediately before and 2 weeks after PTPE. Dynamic SPET with 35 continuous rotations was performed to obtain the k-value according to the accumulation curve in each voxel (0.54 cm x 0.54 cm x 1.08 cm) of the liver immediately after a bolus injection of 185 MBq 99mTc-GSA. Each rotation consisted of 180 degrees turn in 64 steps in a 64 x 64 matrix. The acquisition time of each rotation was 35 s. We devised an original PRI by combining the k-value with functional liver volume which were measured by liver dynamic SPET. Hepatectomy was performed following the second SPET. The correlation between the PRI and post-operative patient prognosis was investigated retrospectively. The functional liver volume of the remnant lobe and the PRI significantly increased after PTPE compared with respective values before PTPE (P<0.005 and P<0.0001, respectively). Regarding the relationship between the PRI and the clinical course following surgery, post-operative complications were observed in only two patients. The PRI values of these two patients were 0.323 and 0.394. When the PRI was above 0.400, no patient had symptoms of hepatic failure. The results of this study suggest that, when the PRI value is above 0.400, there is a low probability of hepatic failure after hepatectomy. We conclude that the PRI devised in this study is useful in the pre-operative assessment of hepatectomy after PTPE.     

End-stage primary sclerosing cholangitis: CT findings of hepatic morphology in 36 patients

PURPOSE: To determine if there is a significant difference in the hepatic morphology depicted on computed tomographic (CT) scans in patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by primary sclerosing cholangitis versus that in patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by other factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frequency of five morphologic findings of the liver parenchyma and two intrahepatic biliary findings identified on CT scans in 36 patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by primary sclerosing cholangitis were compared with the frequency of the same findings in 472 patients with end-stage cirrhosis caused by other factors. The morphologic findings were lobulation of the liver contour, atrophy of the lateral or posterior hepatic segments, hypertrophy of the caudate lobe, and pseudotumor of the caudate lobe. Lobulation, atrophy, and hypertrophy were subclassified as mild-moderate or severe. The biliary findings were ductal dilatation and calculi. RESULTS: Each of the 11 findings occurred more frequently (P < .05) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis than in the other 472 patients. Six findings occurred more frequently (P < .05) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis than in patients with cirrhosis caused by any other single agent. CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference in the hepatic morphology observed in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis-induced end-stage cirrhosis versus that in patients with end-stage cirrhosis of other causes.