Portal Hypertension—Noninvasive Multiparametric Ultrasound‐Based Criteria and Measurements

Abstract

ABSTRACT Portal hypertension, the most common complication in liver cirrhosis, is characterized by a pathologic increase in portal venous pressure. Portal hypertension is defined as a pressure gradient greater than 5 mmHg between the portal vein and the inferior caval vein. Clinically significant portal hypertension is determined by a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) exceeding 10 mmHg. Complications are likely to occur if the pressure exceeds this threshold. The gold standard for assessing portal hypertension is the measurement of HVPG, which is an invasive procedure. This review discusses the various multiparametric capabilities of ultrasound, including B‐mode, color Doppler imaging, Doppler measurement, contrast‐enhanced ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, and elastography to diagnose portal hypertension and assess its severity.

Keywords

• color Doppler imaging
• Doppler indices
• elastography
• multiparametric ultrasound
• portal hypertension