Anatomical Features of the Caval Porta of the Liver: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The study of in vivo topographic and anatomical features of the hepatic caval porta is a key factor in improving existing surgical approaches and developing new ones for managing liver trauma.

AIM: This study aimed to identify in vivo anatomical and topographic characteristics of the hepatic caval porta among individuals of varying sexes, ages, and body types.

METHODS: The study included 128 patients (56 men and 72 women), aged 19–90 years, who represented three body types. Using contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography of the abdominal organs, the in vivo topography of the hepatic caval porta was assessed, including its length, width, perimeter, and area in the coronal projection, and the length of extrahepatic hepatic vein segments. As the data were not normally distributed, quantitative parameters (e.g., age and anatomical, topographic, and geometric features of the hepatic veins) were compared using the Mann–Whitney, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, and median χ² tests. Qualitative variables (e.g., sex and porta shape) were evaluated using nonparametric χ² tests, including Pearson’s and Fisher’s criteria.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the in vivo topographic and anatomical structure of the hepatic caval porta among the examined patients. Comparison of age groups showed that mean values in the 18–44-year group were higher for the following parameters: hepatic caval porta width (27.42 mm), length (13.84 mm), and area (515.50 mm²). In the 60–75-year group, higher values were noted for the hepatic caval porta perimeter (107.89 mm) and distance to the confluence of the hepatic veins into the inferior vena cava (2.79 mm). Using the Mann–Whitney test, significant differences were observed between the 18–44 and 60–75 age groups (p ≤ 0.05; p = 0.0460). A similar trend was noted between the 18–44 and 45–59 age groups (p = 0.0922).

CONCLUSION: Differences in the dimensions of the hepatic caval porta were determined across all age groups, with significant differences observed only between the youngest and oldest cohorts. The most pronounced differences were found in width, length, and area of the porta, as well as perimeter and distance to hepatic vein confluence. These parameters exhibited variable trends when individual indices were compared.