Efectividad de la acupuntura con microsistema de cara como tratamiento de pacientes con cefalea migrañosa / Effectiveness of Acupuncture with a Facial Microsystem as a Treatment for Patients with Migraine Headache

RESUMEN Introducción: La cefalea es uno de los trastornos más comunes del sistema nervioso en todo el mundo, frecuentemente es signo de otras enfermedades. Mientras la medicina occidental trata los síntomas con medicamentos, los médicos alternativos tratan la causa con acupuntura para proporcionar alivio duradero. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la acupuntura con microsistema de cara como tratamiento de pacientes con cefalea migrañosa. Métodos: Estudio cuasiexperimental de tipo casos-controles con 100 pacientes que asistieron a la Clínica del Dolor del Hospital "Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo", en Santiago de Cuba, con diagnóstico de cefalea migrañosa, desde enero de 2014 a noviembre de 2015. Al grupo estudio se aplicó acupuntura con microsistema de cara; al grupo control, medicamentos. La información se obtuvo de las historias clínicas, el dolor se valoró con la escala analógica visual del dolor. Se aplicó Ji cuadrado de homogeneidad para la identificar diferencias significativas entre las proporciones de efectividad de uno y otro tratamiento, con un nivel de significación (α;= 0,05). Resultados: Predominó el sexo femenino (70,00 por ciento), el grupo etareo 18-39 años, de ellos 40 en el grupo estudio (80,00 por ciento), 43 en el control (86,00 por ciento). En el grupo estudio el 82,00 por ciento de los pacientes quedó sin dolor desde la primera sesión del tratamiento, el 18,00 por ciento con dolor disminuido. Al final del tratamiento el 98,00 por ciento del grupo estudio quedó sin dolor contra el 96,00 por ciento del grupo control. Conclusión: La acupuntura con microsistema de cara es un método alternativo efectivo en el tratamiento de la cefalea migrañosa(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Headache is one of the most common nervous system disorders worldwide. It is frequently a sign of other diseases. While Western medicine treats symptoms with medications, alternative practitioners treat the cause with acupuncture to provide long-lasting relief. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture with a facial microsystem as a treatment for patients with migraine headache. Methods: Quasiexperimental case-control study with 100 patients who attended the Pain Clinic at Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, with a diagnosis of migraine headache, from January 2014 to November 2015. The study group was applied acupuncture with a facial microsystem. The control group was treated with medicines. The information was obtained from the medical records. The pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale. Chi-square test of homogeneity was applied in order to identify significant differences between the proportions of effectiveness of one treatment and another, with a level of significance α =0.05. Results: There was predominance of the female sex (70.00 percent), age group 18-39 years, among them 40 in the study group (80.00 percent) and 43 in the control group (86.00 percent). In the study group, 82.00 percent of patients remained without pain from the first session of treatment and 18.00 percent with pain decreased. At the end of the treatment, 98.00 percent of the study group remained without pain in opposition to 96.00 percent of the control group. Conclusion: Acupuncture with a facial microsystem is an effective alternative method in the treatment of migraine headache(AU)

The Associations of Online Health Information Search and eHealth Literacy with Perceived Information Usefulness: Analysis in the Context of Diet and Weight Control / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine (1) the patterns of online health information search with respect to seeking and scanning, and (2) how online search, along with eHealth literacy, predicts perceived information usefulness in the context of diet and weight control. METHODS: Online survey was conducted with 299 adults from the consumer panel recruited for the purpose of quality assessment of the Korean National Health Information Portal in 2016. We conducted paired sample t-test and multiple logistic regression to address the research questions. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and SAS ver. 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). RESULTS: Of the respondents, 38.8% were ‘high seek-high scanners,’ 35.8% were ‘low seek-low scanners,’ 13.0% were ‘high seek-low scanners,’ and 12.4% were ‘low seek-high scanners.’ eHealth literacy was a significant, positive predictor of online information scanning (odds ratio [OR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–4.29), but not for online information seeking (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.00–3.05). With respect to perceived usefulness of online information seeking, online seeking (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.19–11.00) and eHealth literacy (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.11–4.75) were significant predictors. Perceived usefulness of online scanning had a significant association with online scanning (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.08–5.22), but not with eHealth literacy. CONCLUSION: To increase the effectiveness of the health policy for online information search and related outcomes in the context of diet and weight control, it is important to develop education programs promoting eHealth literacy.

Customers' Use of Menu Labeling in Restaurants and Their Perceptions of Menu Labeling Attributes

The purpose of this study was to examine restaurant customers' use of menu labeling and their perception of menu labeling attributes. Further, the study investigated relations of menu labeling use behavior, and perception of menu labeling attributes with behavioral intentions toward menu labeling. Using a self-administered survey conducted for 2 weeks from the 2nd week of October, 2015, data were collected from restaurant customers who were exposed to menu labeling over 3 months at the time of the survey. A total of 426 respondents completed the survey. Respondents were asked about use of menu labeling, usefulness, ease of understanding, accuracy, and demographic information. There was a difference in menu labeling use behavior according to age, whereas respondents aged 50 years or over showed significantly higher use of menu labeling than those in 20s (P<0.001). Perceptions of menu labeling attributes positively affected behavioral intentions towards menu labeling. While all three menu labeling attributes, ‘usefulness’, ‘ease of understanding’, and ‘accuracy’, were positive factors for behavioral intentions towards menu labeling, usefulness was the biggest attribute explaining behavioral intentions (P<0.001). The study findings offer implications that can be applied to academics, the foodservice industry, and government in an attempt to nurture a healthy eating environment through provision of nutritional information at restaurants.

Research on System Design of Financial Information Disclosure in Public Hospitals / 中国卫生经济

Based on the comparison of financial information disclosure among public hospitals,enterprises,government and non-profit organizations,it proposed to establish a system framework on public hospitals financial information disclosure framework combined with the guidance of urban public hospital comprehensive reform pilot,including information published main body,object,scope,contents,method,time,form,quality assurance and violations.

Usefulness of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood is a useful systemic inflammatory response biomarker. However, NLR has not been studied in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was aimed to evaluate the usefulness of NLR in patients with COPD. METHODS: NLR was prospectively measured and compared in patients with COPD exacerbation (n = 59), patients with stable COPD (n = 61), and healthy controls (n = 28). NLR in patients with COPD exacerbation was repeatedly measured in the convalescent period. The correlation between NLR and clinical parameters was evaluated, and the predictors for respiratory hospitalization were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: NLR values were significantly higher in patients with COPD exacerbation compared with stable COPD patients and controls (12.4 ± 10.6, 2.4 ± 0.7, 1.4 ± 0.5, respectively; p < 0.001). NLR was significantly decreased during the convalescent period in patients with COPD exacerbation (4.5 ± 4.6 vs. 11.5 ± 8.8, p < 0.001). NLR exhibited a significant correlation with the body mass index, degree of airway obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index, the 6-minute walk test, and the modified Medical Research Council scale. NLR ≥ 2.8 was an independent predictor with a borderline significance for respiratory hospitalization (odds ratio, 2.083; p = 0.079). Body mass index and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were independent predictors for respiratory hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is a straightforward and effective biomarker of COPD exacerbation that may serve as a predictor for respiratory hospitalization in patients with COPD.

How to Establish Clinical Prediction Models

A clinical prediction model can be applied to several challenging clinical scenarios: screening high-risk individuals for asymptomatic disease, predicting future events such as disease or death, and assisting medical decision-making and health education. Despite the impact of clinical prediction models on practice, prediction modeling is a complex process requiring careful statistical analyses and sound clinical judgement. Although there is no definite consensus on the best methodology for model development and validation, a few recommendations and checklists have been proposed. In this review, we summarize five steps for developing and validating a clinical prediction model: preparation for establishing clinical prediction models; dataset selection; handling variables; model generation; and model evaluation and validation. We also review several studies that detail methods for developing clinical prediction models with comparable examples from real practice. After model development and vigorous validation in relevant settings, possibly with evaluation of utility/usability and fine-tuning, good models can be ready for the use in practice. We anticipate that this framework will revitalize the use of predictive or prognostic research in endocrinology, leading to active applications in real clinical practice.

Medication package inserts’ usefulness for Sudanese pharmacists and patients: pharmacists’ perspective.

Background: Written medication information is important to health care professionals and patients, alike. Medication package inserts (PI) can prove useful sources for written medication information for pharmacist and patients. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the Sudanese pharmacists toward PIs. Methods: A total of 120 randomly selected Sudanese community and hospital pharmacists, were addressed with a questionnaire of 14 free to answer closed-ended questions. Results: Results showed clear dominance of the young (96.5%), females (63.3%)pharmacists population, whose majority (90.8%) had their undergraduates studies in Sudan. Majority (79.2%) of respondents was keen to read the PIs, and (75.8%)considered them as reliable written medication information sources and references. Correlation between respondents’ reliability and reading of PIs was significant (**p=0.038). How to use medications (95%) their dose (92.5%), and compliance (67.5%), topped the medication information particulars provided by respondents to patients. Drug-interactions and side-effects (36.7%) were downplayed by the respondents. Only a small minority (21.7%) of respondents used to advise patients to read PIs. Majority (85%) of respondents believed that PIs were difficult for patients to understand. Their texts’ language (68.2%), technical terminology (75%) and font size (10%) were cited as main barriers to understandability. Conclusions: To secure usefulness of PIs, they shall be written in lay terminology of patients’ native language. Pharmacists shall seek independent sources of medication information, advice and motivate patients to read PIs and keep them for ongoing reference.

Utilidad clínica de las pruebas hormonales e inmunológicas en la evaluación de las enfermedades del tiroides / Clinical usefulness of hormonal and immunological tests for the evaluation of thyroid diseases

Las enfermedades tiroideas son un importante problema de salud que afecta a un gran porcentaje de la población. Las pruebas bioquímicas constituyen el pilar fundamental para su diagnóstico y seguimiento. El desarrollo de ensayos de segunda y tercera generación ha supuesto un gran avance en el diagnóstico de estas enfermedades. El texto incluye los ensayos utilizados para diagnosticar y tratar las diferentes enfermedades tiroideas, provee información bioquímica y clínica actualizada contenida en secciones referidas a la utilidad clínica de las determinaciones de hormonas tiroideas totales y libres, anticuerpos antitiroideos, tirotropina humana y tiroglobulina, de manera que pueda ofrecer, tanto al laboratorio como al médico, un panorama general de la utilidad y la capacidad actual de estas pruebas(AU)

Thyroid diseases are a significant health problem affecting a high percentage of the population. The biochemical tests are the fundamental pillar for diagnosis and follow-up. The development of second and third-generation assays has represented a great advance in diagnosing these diseases. The text covers the tests to diagnose and treat a number of thyroid diseases, and provides the reader with updated biochemical and clinical information in sections about the clinical usefulness of total and free thyroid hormone determinations, antithyroid antibodies, human thyrotropin and thyroglobulin. In this way, it can offer both the lab and the physician a general overview of the usefulness and the current capability of these tests(AU)

Propuesta de reglas de decisión en las evaluaciones económicas de tecnologías sanitarias para el contexto cubano / Proposals of decision rules in economic assessment of health technologies for the Cuban context

INTRODUCCIÓN: Aunque las evaluaciones económicas en el sector sanitario cubano han crecido en número y en calidad, con poca periodicidad son utilizadas en la toma de decisiones, ni se solicitan con frecuencia. Una de las posibles causas para no emplearlas es que casi ninguna muestra las reglas de decisión aplicadas por los investigadores para la alternativa que proponen, lo que incrementa la incertidumbre de los encargados de tomar decisiones. OBJETIVO: Presentar un grupo de reglas de decisión en evaluaciones económicas que forman parte de la literatura. RESULTADOS: Se presentan criterios de decisión para evaluaciones económicas de tipo costo efectividad (plano costo efectividad); costo utilidad (considerada una variante de la técnica costo efectividad) emplea como criterio de decisión el plano costo efectividad también; costo beneficio utiliza el valor actual neto, la razón costo beneficio bruta y la tasa interna de rendimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: La aplicación de reglas de decisión en las evaluaciones económicas contribuye a la reducción de la incertidumbre en el momento de decidir entre alternativas

INTRODUCTION: Although the economic assessments in the Cuban health sector have increased in number and in quality, they are neither used frequently used in the decision-making nor are frequently requested. One of the potential causes of this non-use is that almost any shows of decision rules applied by researchers for the own alternative increasing the uncertainty of those charged of decisions-making. OBJECTIVE: To present a series of decision rules in economic assessments to be part of the literature. RESULTS: Some decision criteria are presented for economic assessment of cost-effectiveness ( cost-effectiveness plan); cost-usefulness (a variant of cost-effectiveness technique) which uses as decision criterion also the cost-effectiveness plan; cost-benefit uses the net current value, the gross cost-benefit ratio and the performance internal rate. CONCLUSION: The researches related to economic evaluations must to be enclosed by the decision rules on the proposed alternatives, thus it allow to decision-maker to make the choice

Usefulness, Attitude for Using and Purchase Intention on Food Labeling of Housewives and University Students / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness, attitude for using on food labeling such as nutrition labeling, organic food labeling and food additives labeling, and purchase intention in Korean housewives and university students. A total of 320 subjects participated in study from October to November in 2008. They answered to developed questionnaire and 300 subjects (149 housewives, 151 students) completed all questions. The statistical analyses were performed using by SPSS 17.0 package program. The rates of checking the nutrition labeling, organic food labeling and food additives labeling were 57.3%, 57.2% and 63.3%, respectively. Comparing housewives with university students, housewives showed significantly more positive usefulness, attitude for using, purchase intention in some questions about nutrition labeling, organic food labeling and food additives labeling (p < 0.05). Subjects who checked each food labeling on purchasing had more positive usefulness, attitude for using and purchase intention in all questions (p < 0.01). For nutrition labeling and organic food labeling, usefulness (each value of beta was 0.362, 0.354) and attitude for using (each value of beta was 0.336, 0.301) were independent factors for purchase intention (p < 0.001). For food additives labeling, only usefulness had an effect on purchase intention. In conclusion, usefulness, attitude for using food labeling and purchase intention were different between housewives and university students. Moreover, usefulness and attitude for using food labeling affected positively on purchase intention.

Uso dos recursos vegetais por agricultores familiares de Manacapuru (AM) / Use of vegetal resources by Family Farmers in Manacapuru, Amazonas state

Neste estudo é relatado o uso de espécies vegetais por onze famílias que vivem na área rural do município de Manacapuru, no Amazonas. Foi feita uma abordagem participativa durante as entrevistas, utilizando um formulário formal, que considerava toda a propriedade agrícola. No total, foram registradas 173 espécies, cuja maioria (101) apresentou uso medicinal. Sessenta e oito espécies são usadas na alimentação humana e vinte e duas espécies são utilizadas para construção de casas. Noventa e sete espécies (56,1%) provêm somente dos pomares caseiros, 22 espécies (12,7%) existem unicamente na floresta primária e 18 espécies (10,4%) são provenientes das capoeiras. Algumas espécies são encontradas em diferentes ambientes. De fato, a vegetação da região é capaz de prover diferentes recursos para os agricultores, os quais procuram alternativas que possam melhorar sua qualidade de vida. O plantio de espécies frutíferas é bastante comum e representa uma diversificação e melhoria na qualidade alimentar. Porém, há necessidade de incentivo para o plantio de espécies florestais nativas. O aprendizado sobre as plantas medicinais é passado de geração a geração, sempre pelas mulheres.

This study deals with the use of vegetal species by small farmers in the municipal district of Manacapuru, in the State of Amazonas. We used a formal questionnaire for participative interviews which took into consideration the entire agricultural property. Of the one hundred and seventy three species that we registered, the majority (101) presented medicinal use. Sixty-eight species are used for human nutrition and twenty-two for house building. Ninety-seven species (56.1%) come exclusively from domestic orchards; twenty-two (12.7%) exist only in the primary forest; and eighteen species (10.4%) originate from fallows. Some species can be found in different environments. Although the vegetation of the region under study is capable of providing farmers with necessary resources, their look for alternatives that might improve the quality of their lives. Planting fruit species is quite common and means both diversification and better food quality. It is however necessary to encourage planting native forest species. Knowledge and use of medicinal plants is always passed on from generation to generation by women.

Analysis of Diatom Detection Result for Immersed Bodies in Honam Area in 2008 / 대한법의학회지

Death by drowning is one of the most common cause of death worldwide, and the diagnosis of fatal drowning through postmortem examination is not always confirmative. Although many autopsy findings of drowning have been described so far, all these macroscopical signs are non-specific and moreover disappear quite rapidly in the process of decomposition. The combination of autopsy findings and diatom test can provide useful indication for the tentative diagnosis of drowning, but the value of the diatom analysis is still argued. The aim of the present study is to investigate the diagnostic usefulness of diatom test for the drowning death in Korea. The authors reviewed the result of 87 cases of diatom test in the autopsy file and analyzed it by parameters of the common diatom species, monthly frequency, the difference between sea and land water, and the correlation between the test result and the decision of cause of death. The result revealed no definite seasonal variation of diatom detection or no species difference between sea water cases and fresh water cases. The detection rate of diatoms in systemic organs of all cases was 11.49% and that of drowning cases was 9.43%.

Usefulness of Diagnostic Tools in Determining the Operation Level in Multi-level Cervical Radiculopathy: Comparison between Physical Findings, MRI, and EMG / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of each diagnostic tool by comparing physical examination, MRI, and EMG findings with operative findings in multilevel cervical radiculopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six (n=36) multilevel cervical radiculopathy patients with a total of 180 levels were included in this study. The findings of preoperative diagnostic tests, including physical examination, EMG and MRI, were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value by comparing with the operative findings, which was regarded as the gold standard. Correlation between each diagnostic tools were also analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of each item in sensory deficiency were 37%, 86%, 60%, and 72%, motor weakness 62%, 88%, 78%, and 78%, EMG 47%, 87%, 70%, and 71%, and MRI 91%, 86%, 81%, and 93% respectively. Each element showed statistically significant correlation with each diagnostic modality. Correlation between the operative findings and MRI was highest, at 0.766. CONCLUSION: MRI was the most useful diagnostic modality in multi-level cervical radiculopathy. EMG showed relatively low sensitivity and should be considered in conjunction with its clinical application.

Clinical Usefulness and the Accuracy of Korean Reference Equation for Diffusing Capacity / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Park et al. developed the Korean reference equation for the measurement of diffusing capacity in 1985. However, the equation has not been widely used in Korea and foreign reference equations have been popularly used. We intended to compare the clinical usefulness and the accuracy of the the Korean reference equation (Park's equation) with that of the foreign equation (Burrows' equation) that is commonly used in Korea. METHODS: 1. Evaluation of clinical usefulness; Among 1,584 patients who underwent diffusing capacity (D(L)CO) at the Asan Medical Center from July to December 2006, group A subjects included 276 patients who had different interpretations of D(L)CO in trials employing Burrows' equation and Park's equation. Clinical assessment was decided by consensus of two respiratory physicians. In order to evaluate the clinical usefulness of Burrows' equation and Park's equation, agreement of clinical assessment and DLCO interpretation were measured. 2. Evaluation of accuracy; Group B subjects were 81 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and 39 normal subjects. The 81 ILD patients were diagnosed following a surgical lung biopsy. The accuracy of diagnosing ILD as well as sensitivity and specificity were evaluated according to the use of the reference equations (Burrows' equation and Park's equation) for DLCO. RESULTS: Agreement between clinical assessment and interpretation of D(L)CO was 22% for the use of Burrows' equation and 78% for the use of Park's equation. The sensitivity and specificity of the Burrows' equation for diagnosing ILD were 64.2% and 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of the Park's equation for diagnosing ILD were 90.1% and 100%. The sensitivity of the Park's equation for diagnosing ILD was significantly higher than that of Burrows' equation (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The Korean reference equation (Park's equation) was more clinically useful and had higher sensitivity for diagnosing ILD than the foreign reference equation (Burrows' equation).

The Diasgnostic Usefulness of Mean F-wave Latency in Diabetic Polyneuropathy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether mean F-wave latency is a useful electrodiagnostic test in diabetic patients. METHOD: We examined the diagnostic usefulness of mean F-wave latency, motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), and amplitude of compound motor nerve action potential (CMAP) of the tibial and peroneal nerves, and of sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude of the sural nerve in 51 diabetic patients. RESULTS: For the tibial and peroneal nerves, the Z-scores of the mean F-wave latency were significantly larger than those of the MCV and of the amplitude of the CMAP. CONCLUSION: Mean F-wave latency is a sensitive measure for the detection of diabetic polyneuropathy and should be included in electrophysiological studies of diabetic patients.

The Usefulness of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Common Bile Duct Stones / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment of common bile duct stones (CBDS). However it is associated with some complications. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is an efficient diagnostic tool for CBDS with better accuracy than ultrasonography (USG) or computed tomography (CT) and lower complication rate than ERCP. We evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of EUS in suspicious CBDS. METHODS: From Oct. 2001 to Mar. 2004, 84 patients with the suspicion of CBDS, without definite evidence on CT and/or USG were evaluated with EUS. The reports were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Patients were 38 males, 46 females with mean age of 56 years old. CBDS were found in 25 (29.8%) patients. In the diagnosis of CBDS undetected in CT and/or USG, EUS gave 96% sensitivity, 96.6% specificity, 92.3% positive predictive value and 98.3% negative predictive value. When CBDS were found in EUS, the average sizes of CBD and CBDS were 8.8 mm (4~16.7) and 6.4 mm (3.3~9.1) respectively. Diagnostic ERCP was avoided in 54 (64.3%). EUS provided additional diagnosis such as gallbladder stones, gallbladder cancer, ampullary cancer and adenoma. No complication was associated with EUS. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is reasonably safe and accurate procedure in detecting CBDS. EUS may possibly replace diagnostic ERCP in CBDS.

A Study on the Clinical Usefullness of Digitalized Random-dot Stereoacuity Test

Existing methods of stereoacuity testing need specific glasses or optical device for use. We have designed a new stereoacuity test for the digitalized, random-dot stereogram and researched its clinical usefulness. A digitalized, random-dot, stereoacuity test card was created with a computer program that used a preferred symbol and the designed system was tested along with the Randot preschool stereoacuity, Titmus-fly and Lang tests to compare their sensitivity and specificity. The mean success rate of the digitalized, random-dot test was 98.2%, while the rates of the Randot preschool stereoacuity, Titmus-fly and Lang tests were 89.3%, 74.2% and 86.1%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the new test were 100% and 95.3%, respectively, which were not that different from those of the Randot preschool stereoacuity, Titmus-fly and Lang tests. We found that the digitalized, random-dot, stereoacuity test has a high success rate and can be appropriately used in medical examinations and follow-up tests for strabismus patients.

The Usefulness of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Diseases of Liver, Biliary Tree, Gallbladder and around Distal Common Bile Duct / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is now accepted as an essential tool for the diagnosis and the therapy of various gastrointestinal diseases. With regard to the biliary system, its high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were reported recently. We assessed the clinical usefulness of EUS for the diagnosis of diseases of the liver, biliary tree, gallbladder and distal common bile duct. METHODS: We sent questionnaires about the clinical usefulness of EUS to the doctors who requested EUS examination for 32 patients with suspected diseases of the liver, gallbladder and around extrahepatic biliary tree from Aug. 2001 to Aug. 2002. We evaluated the answers and clinical characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: Patients were 17 males and 15 females with mean age of 61.8 years old. All received abdominal computed tomography (CT) before EUS and some had abdominal ultrasonography (USG) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). EUS was more accurate and informative than other imaging modalities and gave definite final diagnosis for 31.2%. In 40.6%, EUS was helpful as an additional diagnostic tool. CONCLUSIONS: EUS was useful in 71.8% of the cases for the diagnosis of diseases of the liver, biliary tree, gallbladder and around distal common bile duct. EUS can be used as an important adjunct to USG, CT and ERCP.