Hepatic venography in hepatic tumors.

In order to establish the diagnosis of hepatic tumors, hepatic venography was performed in 9 cases of primary hepatic tumors and in 17 cases of metastatic hepatic tumors. The deformity of the hepatic veins due to compression by tumors was observed in 42 per cent of the cases. Pathological anastomoses between the hepatic veins were seen in 41 per cent of the cases of metastatic tumors, but in none of the cases of primary tumors. Vascular sack and filling defects of the sinusoidal radio-opacity appeared in 1 and 2 cases of metastatic tumors, respectively. These venographic findings were characteristic of hepatic tumors, and hepatic venography was found useful in the diagnosis in hepatic tumors.