Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the evaluation of oesophageal varices before and after sclerotherapy

This study included 60 chronic liver disease patients classified into 3 groups: Group I included 20 patients with past history of haematemesis [elective sclerotherapy group] in which EUS is done before and after eradication of varices. Group II included 20 patients with acute bleeding in which emergency sclerotherapy was done to stop the attack of bleeding, then EUS was performed after cessation of bleeding and once again after eradication of varices. Group III included 20 patients suffering from oesophageal varices with no history of haematcmesis in which EUS is done for follow-up. After sclerotherapy, the layer structures of the oesophagus become disrupted with marked thickening and very tiny tortuous echo-fret structures that could be visualized. Also, following complete variceal eradication, endosonographic ssessnient revealed significant decrease of oesophageal intramural collaterals and perforators. The azygos vein diameter significantly increases after variceal eradication. The paramural collates did not show any significant difference. Also, portal hypertensive gastropathy [PHG] and gastric varices did not show any significant difference

relation between liver iron overload and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral C cirrhosis

Fifty patients with histologically proven cirrhosis and positive antibodies for CV were included in this study and classified into two groups: The first group consisted of 18 patients with HCC on top of cirrhosis and the second one included 32 cirrhotic patients [HCC free] as controls. Hepatic iron was evaluated using a semiquantitative method in liver biopsies from all patients. Iron deposits were assessed using three different scores [hepatocytic iron score [0- 36], sinusoidal iron score [0-12] and portal iron score [0-12]]. The total iron score [0-60] was defined by the sum of these three scores