value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice

ABSTRACT

88 cases of obstructive jaudice to whom ultrasound was carried out were studied prospectively during the past three years. All these cases were admitted to Baghdad Teaching Hospital where other investigations and/or operation were carried out on them. There were 42 male and 46 females, their age ranged between 7 years and 82 with a meanage of 64 years. Dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts was demonstrable in 85 cases, ie, 96.5%. Ultrasound was useful in defining localized lobar or segmental bile duct dilatation as in case of traumatic biliary stricture or Klaskin tumors U/S was quite sensitive in defining common hepatic duct dilatation and lesions, but not very accurate in defining lesions at the lower part of the common bile duct. In pancreatic and ampullary tumors, huge distention of the gall bladder was defined in 81% of cases and was a useful indirect sign