Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Mean portal vein diameter is considered as the best indicator for portal hypertension.
However, the cutoff point differs from study to study (above 10-15 mm) despite the existence of normal
mean portal vein diameter between 10-15 mm in different settings.This implies the existence of limited
evidence on normal portal vein diameter for all populations in all countries prior to setting the cutoff
points. Therefore, the aim of this study was sonographic assessment of normal mean portal vein diameter
among patients referred to The Department of Radiology in Jimma University Hospital.
METHODS: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2014 at
Jimma University Hospital on a total of 195 clients. Data about portal vein diameter for eligible clients
were collected by radiologists using Sonography. Data were edited manually, entered and analyzed using
SPSS version 16.
RESULT: Data were collected from a total of 195 participants. Among these, 121(62.1%) were males and
the median age of the participants was 35 years. The study revealed a normal mean portal vein diameter
of 10.6 mm ±1.8 SD with a respirophasic variation of 25.6%. Likewise, the normal mean portal vein
diameter seemed to have varied significantly by age and sex.
CONCLUSION: The study revealed a normal mean portal vein diameter ranging below 13 mm. Hence,
decisions made in clinical settings should base on these findings. Besides, there is a need for large scale
study to determine portal vein diameter variation by age and sex, controlling other confounders
