Abstract:

Objective    To measure the anteroposterior diameter of the portacaval space (PCS) using the computed tomography (CT).    Methods    Abdominal CT scan was performed in 41 patients. The patients who had no disease revealed on CT images were considered as the normal individuals group, the patients with small renal cyst were included. Emphasis was placed on the following findings: the minimum anteroposterior diameter of the PCS on the plane of initial part, final end and lower margin of the caudate lobe of the live；The thickness of the fat layer in the navel based on the axial CT images.   Results    The minimum anteroposterior diameter of the PCS on the initial part, final end and lower margin of the caudate lobe of the live was 0.427, 0.529 and 0.344 cm，respectively. The minimum anteroposterior diameter of the PCS on the plane of the lower margin of the caudate lobe of the live was correlative with the thickness of the fat layer in the navel (r=0.387, P＜0.05). The minimum anteroposterior diameter of the PCS on the plane of the initial part and final end was not in correlation with the thickness of the fat layer in the navel (P＞0.05).　Conclusion    The CT can demonstrate the details of the PCS.

Key words: Portacaval space, Anteroposterior diameter, Tomography, X-ray computed