American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test 2025 - Free Pathology Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure used to create a communication between the portal and systemic venous systems, effectively serving as a shunt to help manage portal hypertension. In imaging studies, particularly ultrasound, TIPS presents as an echogenic structure because it involves a stent placed within the liver that can be visualized as it contrasts with surrounding liver tissue.

In this context, the other structures would not be identified specifically as TIPS. The portal vein and hepatic artery are important vascular structures but do not represent the shunt itself. The gallbladder is a hollow organ that stores bile and would not appear as an echogenic structure related to TIPS. Therefore, the echogenic structure specifically identified as TIPS highlights the unique appearance of the shunt created for medical intervention in hepatic conditions. This distinction is crucial for diagnosis and management of patients with complications arising from liver disease.