Abstract
An in-depth understanding of portal venous anatomy, particularly its variants, is
essential for interventional radiologists performing complex hepatobiliary procedures
such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. Anatomical
variations in the portal venous system occur in approximately 35% of the population,
and failure to identify these variants can result in significant procedural complications
including vascular injury and postprocedural liver failure. This article discusses
the most common (types I–V) portal vein variants and the importance of their preprocedural
identification, their potential impact on procedural outcomes, and the role of advanced
imaging techniques in mitigating risks associated with these anatomical variations.
Keywords
portal vein - portal vein anatomy - mesenteric vein - interventional radiology
