Central dot sign

Central dot sign

Most commonly the intrahepatic duct dilatation is segmental (83%) in distribution.
The diffuse form is less common (17%).
The shape of the dilatation is saccular in 76% or fusiform in 24% of the cases.
A very important sign is the central dot sign.
The central dot corresponds to the portal vein that is surrounded by dilated bile ducts.
On the left we see a dot within the dilated ducts.
When we put on the color doppler, we will notice that these structures contain blood flow and represent portal veins.