Review of imaging findings in hepatic veno-occlusive disease

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), also known as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), is a potentially life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patients present with right upper-quadrant abdominal pain, jaundice, weight gain, and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Early diagnosis of VOD is essential to promptly initiate defibrotide therapy, which has been demonstrated to enhance survival and achieve complete resolution of disease in some patients. Historically, VOD was diagnosed by the modified Seattle or Baltimore criteria, which are both based on clinical symptoms. Alongside advancements in medical imaging over the last 40 years, the diagnosis of VOD has evolved to include the use of ultrasound, elastography, cross-sectional imaging, and image guided biopsy. Identification and interpretation of findings of VOD across imaging modalities is now a critical aspect of post-HSCT care. This review will outline the imaging findings and recommendations for the use of imaging in the management of VOD including gray-scale, color and spectral Doppler ultrasound, ultrasound elastography, CT, MRI, and liver biopsy.