Management of suppurative pylephlebitis by percutaneous drainage: placing a drainage catheter into the portal vein.

Persistent infection of the portal vein is a rare entity with significant mortality. We present two cases of infected thombis of the portal vein, one infected with fungus and the other with bacteria, both requiring percutaneous drainage to allow a response to antibiotics. The distinction between bland thrombis, infected thrombis, portal venous air, and pneumobilia will be discussed so that suppurative pylephlebitis can be recognized more easily as drain placement appears to affect a more prompt degree of improvement than antibiotics alone.

CT fluoroscopy: technique and utility in guiding biopsies of transiently enhancing hepatic masses.

We evaluated a new percutaneous biopsy technique for rapid needle localization and biopsy of transiently enhancing focal hepatic masses. Three biopsies in three patients were completed on lesions 18-22 mm in diameter by using computed tomographic fluoroscopy during intravenous contrast enhancement of the liver. All three biopsies were diagnostic.