Role of ultrasound in early detection of cirrhosis liver

ABSTRACT

To determine the accuracy of three ultrasonographic signs that are liver surface nodularity, caudate lobe hypertrophy and hepatic vein flow pattern on Doppler ultrasound in detecting severe liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease. Validation study. Department of Radiology PNS Shifa, Karachi. Duration of the study was 6 months, September 2005 to March 2006. This study included 50 patients of both sexes from 30 - 60 years of age who presented with chronic liver disease in Department of Radiology PNS Shifa, Karachi. TOSHIBA [NEMIO 20] Doppler Ultrasound Machine with 3.5 and 5MHz probes was used to look for liver surface nodularity, caudate lobe hypertrophy and pattern of hepatic vein flow. After performing ultrasound, patients were sent for liver biopsy to compare the results with histopathological findings taken as gold standard. On ultrasound the sensitivity, specificty, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were highest for liver surface nodularity in detecting severe liver fibrosis. Ultrasound determination of liver surface nodularity is a significantly accurate method for identifying severe liver fibrosis or cirrhosis