An international expert opinion statement on the utility of PET/MR for imaging of skeletal metastases.

BACKGROUND: MR is an important imaging modality for evaluating musculoskeletal malignancies owing to its high soft tissue contrast and its ability to acquire multiparametric information. PET provides quantitative molecular and physiologic information and is a critical tool in the diagnosis and staging of several malignancies. PET/MR, which can take advantage of its constituent modalities, is uniquely suited for evaluating skeletal metastases. We reviewed the current evidence of PET/MR in assessing for skeletal metastases and provided recommendations for its use. METHODS: We searched for the peer reviewed literature related to the usage of PET/MR in the settings of osseous metastases. In addition, expert opinions, practices, and protocols of major research institutions performing research on PET/MR of skeletal metastases were considered. RESULTS: Peer-reviewed published literature was included. Nuclear medicine and radiology experts, including those from 13 major PET/MR centers, shared the gained expertise on PET/MR use for evaluating skeletal metastases and contributed to a consensus expert opinion statement. [18F]-FDG and non [18F]-FDG PET/MR may provide key advantages over PET/CT in the evaluation for osseous metastases in several primary malignancies. CONCLUSION: PET/MR should be considered for staging of malignancies where there is a high likelihood of osseous metastatic disease based on the characteristics of the primary malignancy, hight clinical suspicious and in case, where the presence of osseous metastases will have an impact on patient management. Appropriate choice of tumor-specific radiopharmaceuticals, as well as stringent adherence to PET and MR protocols, should be employed.

68Ga-Prostate-specific membrane antigen (psma) positron emission tomography (pet) in prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a non-invasive diagnostic tool to evaluate PC with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression, has emerged as a more accurate alternative to assess disease staging. We aimed to identify predictors of positive 68Ga-PSMA PET and the accuracy of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study with prospective and retrospective approaches. We performed a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase database in search of studies including PC patients submitted to radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy with curative intent and presented biochemical recurrence following ASTRO 1996 criteria. A total of 35 studies involving 3910 patients submitted to 68-Ga-PSMA PET were included and independently assessed by two authors: 8 studies on diagnosis, four on staging, and 23 studies on restaging purposes. The significance level was α=0.05. RESULTS: pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.90 (0.86-0.93) and 0.90 (0.82-0.96), respectively, for diagnostic purposes; as for staging, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.93 (0.86-0.98) and 0.96 (0.92-0.99), respectively. In the restaging scenario, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 (0.74-0.78) and 0.45 (0.27-0.58), respectively, considering the identification of prostate cancer in each described situation. We also obtained specificity and sensitivity results for PSA subdivisions. CONCLUSION: 68Ga-PSMA PET provides higher sensitivity and specificity than traditional imaging for prostate cancer.

PET-CT has low specificity for mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung cancer in an endemic area for tuberculosis: a diagnostic test study (LACOG 0114).

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to assess the performance of 18F-FDG PET-CT on mediastinal staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a location with endemic granulomatous infectious disease. METHODS: Diagnostic test study including patients aged 18 years or older with operable stage I-III NSCLC and indication for a mediastinal lymph node biopsy. All patients underwent a 18F-FDG PET-scan before invasive mediastinal staging, either through mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy, which was considered the gold-standard. Surgeons and pathologists were blinded for scan results. Primary endpoint was to evaluate sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of PET-CT with images acquired in the 1st hour of the exam protocol, using predefined cutoffs of maximal SUV, on per-patient basis. RESULTS: Overall, 85 patients with operable NSCLC underwent PET-CT scan followed by invasive mediastinal staging. Mean age was 65 years, 49 patients were male and 68 were white. One patient presented with active tuberculosis and none had HIV infection. Using any SUV_max > 0 as qualitative criteria for positivity, sensitivity and specificity were 0.87 and 0.45, respectively. Nevertheless, even when the highest SUV cut-off was used (SUV_max ≥5), specificity remained low (0.79), with an estimated positive predictive value of 54%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are in line with the most recent publications and guidelines, which recommend that PET-CT must not be solely used as a tool to mediastinal staging, even in a region with high burden of tuberculosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The LACOG 0114 study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , before study initiation, under identifier NCT02664792.

Aiming for [18F]FDG-PET acquisition time reduction in clinical practice for neurological patients.

PURPOSE: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [18F]FDG provides valuable information regarding the underlying pathological processes in neurodegenerative disorders. PET imaging for these populations should be as short as possible to limit head movements and improve comfort. This study aimed to validate an optimized [18F]FDG-PET image reconstruction protocol aiming to reduce acquisition time while maintaining adequate quantification accuracy and image quality. METHODS: A time-reduced reconstruction protocol (5 min) was evaluated in [18F]FDG-PET retrospective data from healthy individuals and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Standard (8 min) and time-reduced protocols were compared by means of image quality and quantification accuracy metrics, as well as standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and Z-scores (pons was used as reference). Images were randomly and blindly presented to experienced physicians and scored in terms of image quality. RESULTS: No differences between protocols were identified during the visual assessment. Small differences (p < 0.01) in the pons SUVR were observed between the standard and time-reduced protocols for healthy individuals (-0.002 ±â€¯0.011) and AD patients (-0.007 ±â€¯0.013). Likewise, incorporating the PSF correction in the reconstruction algorithm resulted in small differences (p < 0.01) in SUVR between protocols (healthy individuals: -0.003 ±â€¯0.011; AD patients: -0.007 ±â€¯0.014). CONCLUSION: Quality metrics were similar between time-reduced and standard protocols. In the visual assessment of the images, the physicians did not consider the use of PSF adequate, as it degraded the quality image. Shortening the acquisition time is possible by optimizing the image reconstruction parameters while maintaining adequate quantification accuracy and image quality.

Amyloid-ß PET Classification on Cognitive Aging Stages Using the Centiloid Scale.

PROPOSE: This study aims to explore the use of the Centiloid (CL) method in amyloid-ß PET quantification to evaluate distinct cognitive aging stages, investigating subjects' mismatch classification using different cut-points for amyloid-ß positivity. PROCEDURES: The CL equation was applied in four groups of individuals: SuperAgers (SA), healthy age-matched controls (AC), healthy middle-aged controls (MC), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The amyloid-ß burden was calculated and compared between groups and quantitative variables. Three different cut-points (Jack CR, Wiste HJ, Weigand SD, et al., Alzheimer's Dement 13:205-216, 2017; Salvadó G, Molinuevo JL, Brugulat-Serrat A, et al., Alzheimer's Res Ther 11:27, 2019; and Amadoru S, Doré V, McLean CA, et al., Alzheimer's Res Ther 12:22, 2020) were applied in CL values to differentiate the earliest abnormal pathophysiological accumulation of Aß and the established Aß pathology. RESULTS: The AD group exhibited a significantly increased Aß burden compared to the MC, but not AC groups. Both healthy control (MC and AC) groups were not significantly different. Visually, the SA group showed a diverse distribution of CL values compared with MC; however, the difference was not significant. The CL values have a moderate and significant relationship between Aß visual read, RAVLT DR and MMSE. Depending on the cut-point used, 10 CL, 19 CL, or 30 CL, 7.5% of our individuals had a different classification in the Aß positivity. For the AC group, we obtained about 40 to 60% of the individuals classified as positive. CONCLUSION: SuperAgers exhibited a similar Aß load to AC and MC, differing in cognitive performance. Independently of cut-point used (10 CL, 19 CL, or 30 CL), three SA individuals were classified as Aß positive, showing the duality between the individual's clinics and the biological definition of Alzheimer's. Different cut-points lead to Aß positivity classification mismatch in individuals, and an extra care is needed for individuals who have a CL value between 10 and 30 CL.

Increased Glucose Activity in Subgenual Anterior Cingulate and Hippocampus of High Performing Older Adults, Despite Amyloid Burden.

BACKGROUND: Individuals at 80 years of age or above with exceptional memory are considered SuperAgers (SA), an operationalized definition of successful cognitive aging. SA showed increased thickness and altered functional connectivity in the anterior cingulate cortex as a neurobiological signature. However, their metabolic alterations are yet to be uncovered. OBJECTIVE: Herein, a metabolic (FDG-PET), amyloid (PIB-PET), and functional (fMRI) analysis of SA were conducted. METHODS: Ten SA, ten age-matched older adults (C80), and ten cognitively normal middle-aged (C50) adults underwent cognitive testing and multimodal neuroimaging examinations. Anterior and posterior regions of the cingulate cortex and hippocampal areas were primarily examined, then subregions of anterior cingulate were segregated. RESULTS: The SA group showed increased metabolic activity in the left and right subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sACC, p < 0.005 corrected, bilateral) and bilateral hippocampi (right: p < 0.0005 and left: p < 0.005, both corrected) as compared to that in the C80 group. Amyloid deposition was above threshold in 30% of SA and C80 (p > 0.05). The SA group also presented decreased connectivity between right sACC and posterior cingulate (p < 0.005, corrected) as compared to that of the C80 group. CONCLUSION: These results support the key role of sACC and hippocampus in SA, even in the presence of amyloid deposition. It also suggests that sACC may be used as a potential biomarker in older adults for exceptional memory ability. Further longitudinal studies measuring metabolic biomarkers may help elucidate the interaction between these areas in the cognitive aging process.

Global Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine Departments: An International Survey in April 2020.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed significant challenges on health-care systems worldwide, whether in the preparation, response, or recovery phase of the pandemic. This has been primarily managed by dramatically reducing in- and outpatient services for other diseases and implementing infection prevention and control measures. The impact of the pandemic on nuclear medicine departments and their services has not yet been established. The aim of this online survey was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on nuclear medicine departments. Methods: A web-based questionnaire, made available from April 16 to May 3, 2020, was designed to determine the impact of the pandemic on in- and outpatient nuclear medicine departments, including the number of procedures, employee health, availability of radiotracers and other essential supplies, and availability of personal protective equipment. The survey also inquired about operational aspects and types of facilities as well as other challenges. Results: A total of 434 responses from 72 countries were registered and analyzed. Respondents reported an average decline of 54% in diagnostic procedures. PET/CT scans decreased by an average of 36%, whereas sentinel lymph-node procedures decreased by 45%, lung scans by 56%, bone scans by 60%, myocardial studies by 66%, and thyroid studies by 67%. Of all participating centers, 81% performed radionuclide therapies, and they reported a reduction of 45% on average in the last 4 wk, ranging from over 76% in Latin America and South East Asia to 16% in South Korea and Singapore. Survey results showed that 52% of participating sites limited their 99mTc/99Mo generator purchases, and 12% of them temporarily cancelled orders. Insufficient supplies of essential materials (radioisotopes, generators, and kits) were reported, especially for 99mTc/99Mo generators and 131I, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Conclusion: Both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures declined precipitously, with countries worldwide being affected by the pandemic to a similar degree. Countries that were in the postpeak phase of the pandemic when they responded to the survey, such as South Korea and Singapore, reported a less pronounced impact on nuclear medicine services; however, the overall results of the survey showed that nuclear medicine services worldwide had been significantly impacted. In relation to staff health, 15% of respondents experienced COVID-19 infections within their own departments.

Cervical cancer - staging and restaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

The Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Brazilian Medical Association, aims to combine information from the medical field in order to standardize producers to assist the reasoning and decision-making of doctors. The information provided through this project must be assessed and criticized by the physician responsible for the conduct that will be adopted, depending on the conditions and the clinical status of each patient.

Relapsed ovarian cancer - diagnosis using 18F-FDG PET/CT; 4.

The Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Brazilian Medical Association, aims to combine information from the medical field in order to standardize procedures to assist the reasoning and decision-making of doctors. The information provided through this project must be assessed and criticized by the physician responsible for the conduct that will be adopted, depending on the conditions and the clinical status of each patient.

68Ga-Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (pet) in prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a non-invasive diagnostic tool to evaluate PC with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression, has emerged as a more accurate alternative to assess disease staging. We aimed to identify predictors of positive 68Ga-PSMA PET and the accuracy of this technique. Materials and methods: Diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study with prospective and retrospective approaches. We performed a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase database in search of studies including PC patients submitted to radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy with curative intent and presented biochemical recurrence following ASTRO 1996 criteria. A total of 35 studies involving 3910 patients submitted to 68-Ga-PSMA PET were included and independently assessed by two authors: 8 studies on diagnosis, four on staging, and 23 studies on restaging purposes. The significance level was α=0.05. Results: pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.90 (0.86-0.93) and 0.90 (0.82-0.96), respectively, for diagnostic purposes; as for staging, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.93 (0.86-0.98) and 0.96 (0.92-0.99), respectively. In the restaging scenario, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.76 (0.74-0.78) and 0.45 (0.27-0.58), respectively, considering the identification of prostate cancer in each described situation. We also obtained specificity and sensitivity results for PSA subdivisions. Conclusion: 68Ga-PSMA PET provides higher sensitivity and specificity than traditional imaging for prostate cancer.

Cervical cancer - staging and restaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT

The Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Brazilian Medical Association, aims to combine information from the medical field in order to standardize producers to assist the reasoning and decision-making of doctors. The information provided through this project must be assessed and criticized by the physician responsible for the conduct that will be adopted, depending on the conditions and the clinical status of each patient.

Relapsed ovarian cancer - diagnosis using 18F-FDG PET/CT; 4

The Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Brazilian Medical Association, aims to combine information from the medical field in order to standardize procedures to assist the reasoning and decision-making of doctors. The information provided through this project must be assessed and criticized by the physician responsible for the conduct that will be adopted, depending on the conditions and the clinical status of each patient.

Salpingite istmica nodosa: revisão e diagnóstico histerossalpingográfico de 4casos de uma clinica radiológica privada / Salpingitis isthmica nodosa: review and hysterosalpingography diagnosis of 4 cases in a private radiology clinic

Objetivo: identificar os achados radiológicos da salpingite ístmica nodosa (SIN) a partir da histerossalpingografia e avaliar o local de comprometimento e sua repercussão na infertilidade. Métodos: em estudo retrospectivo foram revistos 2.800 protocolos, realizadas entre janeiro de 1987 e janeiro de 1997, em pacientes com história clínica de infertilidade feminina, tendo quatro com diagnóstico radiológico de SIN, sendo analisados etnia, idade, estado civil, queixa clínica atual, antecedentes clínicos, local e o lado do comprometimento. Resultados: entre as quatro pacientes com SIN, três eram melanodérmicas e uma caucasiana, com idade média de 35 anos na época do diagnóstico, duas solteiras, uma casada e uma divorciada. As queixas de infertilidade secundária estavampresentes em três pacientes com antecedentes de gravidez tubária prévia e outro de infertilidade primária, sem antecedentes de gravidez. Nas quatro pacientes com SIN, a porção tubária acometida foi a ístmica cornual, tubário bilateral em três e unilateral em uma. Em relação à peritonização, uma apresentava prova de Cotté positiva bilateral, duas com obstrução completa bilateral e uma com Cotté positiva em uma das tubas.Conclusão: SIN é mais frequente em pacientes melanodérmicas, na faixa etária média de 35 anos, com história clínica de infertilidade, de gravidez tubária inicial e recorrente e consequente obstrução tubária caracterizada por lesão na porção ístmica cornual da tuba uterina, geralmente de comprometimento bilateral.

Objective: to identify the radiological findings of salpingitis isthmica nodosa (SIN) through hysterosalpingography and evaluate the site of involvement and its impact on infertility. Methods: 2,800 protocols were reviewed in a retrospective study between January of 1987 and January of 1997, in patients with a clinical history of female infertility; four of them with a radiological diagnosis of SIN. Ethnicity, age, marital status, current clinical complaints, medical history, location, and side of involvement were analyzed. Results: among the four patients with SIN, three were dark-skin, and one was Caucasian, with an average age of 35 years at diagnosis, two single, one married, and one divorcee. Three patients presented complaints of secondary infertility with previous tubal pregnancy history, and another with primary infertility without pregnancy history. In the four patients with SIN, the tubal portion affected was the cornual isthmian, bilateral tubal in three, and unilateral in one. Regarding peritonization, one showed positive bilateral Cotte proof, two with complete bilateral obstruction, and one with positive Cotte in one of the tubes. Conclusion: SIN is more common in dark-skin patients, in the mean age of 35 years, with a clinical history of infertility, with initial and recurrent tubal pregnancy, and subsequent tubal obstruction characterized by lesion in the Isthmian cornual portion of the fallopian tube, usually with bilateral involvement.

Salpingite ístmica nodosa: diagnóstico histerossalpingográfico de uma causa de infertilidade / Isthmian nodosa salpingitis: histero-salpingography diagnosis of an infertility cause

Objetivo: demonstrar os achados da salpingite ístmica nodosa (SIN) por meio da histerossalpingografia e avaliar o local de comprometimento e sua repercussão na infertilidade feminina. Paciente e Métodos: em estudo retrospectivo foram revistas 2.800 histerossalpingografias realizadas entre janeiro de 1987 e janeiro de 2007 em pacientes com história clínica de infertilidade feminina. Destas, quatro pacientes apresentavam diagnóstico radiológico de SIN, sendo analisados seus principais aspectos radiográficos, como também os locais de comprometimento e suas repercussões na infertilidade. Resultados: das quatro pacientes em que foi encontrada a doença estudada a partir da investigação histerossalpingográfica da infertilidade, três tinham antecedentes de gravidez tubária, todas com comprometimento ístmico cornual, sendo três delas de comprometimento bilateral e uma unilateral. Uma delas apresentava prova de Cotté positiva bilateral, duas com prova de Cotté negativa bilateral e uma com tuba direita positiva e esquerda negativa. Conclusão: o diagnóstico da SIN é feito com base na histerossalpingografia, caracterizada pelo acúmulo do meio de contraste na parede tubária, distribuída na porção ístmica cornual ou ampolar, uni ou bilateralmente, acompanhado de história clínica de infertilidade, gravidez tubária, abortamento espontâneo e obstrução tubária.

Objective: to demonstrate the findings of isthmian nodosa salpingitis (SIN) through histero-salpingography and evaluate the site of involvement and its impact on female infertility. Patients and Methods: a total of 2,800 histero-salpingographies were reviewed in a retrospective study between January of 1987 and January of 2007 in patients with a clinical history of female infertility. Of these, four patients presented radiological diagnosisof SIN; their main radiographic aspects, sites of involvement, and impact on infertility were analyzed. Results: out of the four patients in which the studied disease was found through the histero-salpingography infertility research, three had a history of tubal pregnancy, all with cornual isthmian involvement; bilateral in three of them and unilateral in one. One of them showed evidence of positive bilateral Cotté, two showed evidence ofnegative bilateral Cotté, and one bilateral with right positive tubal and left negative tubal. Conclusion: the diagnosis of SIN is achieved based on histero-salpingography, characterized by the accumulation of contrast medium on the tubal wall, distributed in the cornual or ampolar isthmian portion, uni- or bilaterally, and accompanied by clinical history ofinfertility, tubal pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and tubal obstruction.

Síndrome de Cruveilhier-Baumgarten: aspectos ultrassonográficos / Cruveilhier-Baugarten syndrome: sonographic aspects

Objetivo: este trabalho analisa as alterações ultrassonográficas que caracterizam a síndrome de Cruveilhier-Baumgarten (SCB), com suas alterações clínicas. A SCB caracteriza-se pela veia paraumbilical proeminente, com dilatação das veias superficiais da parede abdominal de aspecto radiado provenientes do umbigo dos pacientes com hepatopatia crônica e hipertensão portal. Casuística e métodos: em avaliação ultrassonográfica de 60 pacientes com diagnóstico de hepatopatia crônica com hipertensão portal foram encontrados quatro casos com a SCB em que foi realizado o estudo por meio do doppler colorido. Resultados: todos os pacientes avaliados eram do gênero masculino, estavam na terceira década de vida, tinham história de esplenomegalia, varizes na parede abdominal e eram portadores de esquistossomose e aspecto histopatológico de cirrose micronodular. Foram analisados também dois pacientes com varizes do esôfago sem clinica de hematêmese. Ultrassonograficamente, todos os pacientes tinham sinais de hepatopatia crônica com esplenomegalia, com fluxo hepatopetal em todos os segmentos da veia porta e fluxo hepatofugal nas veias que deixam o fígado (veia paraumbilical no ligamento falciforme e nas veias superficiais da parede abdominal anterior). Conclusão: a SCB caracteriza-se pela associação de sinais de hepatopatia crônica com esplenomegalia, veias paraumbilicais com aumento de calibre (hipertensão porta) e com fluxo para as veias superficiais da parede abdominal, que se acham dilatadas na região umbilical e com sopro à ausculta pelo ultrassom e ao exame físico.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the sonographic changes that characterize the Cruveilhier-Baumgarten syndrome and its clinical charactheristics. Cruveilhier- Baumgartem syndrome is characterized by a prominent paraumbilical vein, with dilatated superficial veins of the abdominal wall radiating from the umbilicus of patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. Patients and methods: In a sonographic evaluation of 60 patients diagnosed with chronic liver disease with portal hypertension we found 4 cases of Cruveilhier-Baumgarten syndrome, which we studied with color doppler sonography.Results: All patients were male, in their third decade of life, with a clinical history of splenomegaly and varicose abdominal wall veins. Patients had schistosomiasis and micronodular cirrhosis on hystopathological examination. We also evaluated two patients with esophageal varices without hemathemesis. All patients had ultrasound signs of splenomegaly and chronic liver disease, with hepatopetal flow in all segments of the portal vein and hepatofugal flow in the efferent veins of the liver (paraumbilical vein in the falciform ligament and the anterior abdominal wall surface veins). Conclusion: CBS is charactherized by the associationof signs of chronic liver damage with splenomegaly, distention of paraumbilical veins (portal hypertension) and blood flow towards the superficial abdominal wall veins, which are dilated in the umbilical region, associated with an audible bruit in both clinical and sonographic examination.

Hipertensão portal idiopática e suas alterações ultrassonográficas / Idiopathic portal hypertension and related ultrasound findings

Objetivo: caracterizar clínica e pela ultrassonografia (US) a hipertensão portal idiopática. Pacientes e métodos: foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, por US com doppler colorido, 60 pacientes com diagnóstico clínico de hepatopatia crônica e hipertensão portal, de janeiro de 1996 a janeiro de 2006, em clínica privada, encontrando dois casosde hipertensão portal idiopática. Comentários: em jovens com esplenomegalia, hematêmese recorrente, anemia, ascite, funções hepáticas normais e hipertensão portal sem evidência de cirrose, foram observados à US fígado de tamanho usual, textura heterogênea e superfície lisa, ausência de deformidades das ramificações das veias portais intra-hepáticas, espessamento da parede da veia porta maior ou igual a 3 mm e estreitamento abrupto das veias portais secundárias intra-hepáticas acompanhado de esplenomegalia.

Objective: to characterize idiopathic portal hypertension clinically and by ultrasound (US). Patients and methods: 60 patients with clinical diagnosis of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension were retrospectively assessed by color Doppler US, from January 1996 to January 2006, in a privately owned clinic. Two cases of idiopathic portal hypertension were found. Comments: in young patients with splenomegaly, recurring hematemesis, anemia, ascites, normal liver function and portal hypertension without evidence of cirrhosis, US revealed livers of usual size, heterogeneous texture and flat surface, without deformities in the branches of the intra-hepatic portal veins. The portal vein walls were also thickened starting at 3 mm and marked by an abrupt narrowing of the secondary intra-hepatic portal veins, accompanied by splenomegaly.