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hepatobiliary ultrasonography
Indications:
identifies
1) liver size, hepatomegaly
2) diffuse parenchymal changes (increased echogenicity, NOT specific for fatty liver)
3) focal liver masses
4) gallstones
5) gallbladder thickening
6) biliary tract dilation
7) hepatic vein obstruction or portal vein obstruction
8) presence of collateral vasculature suggestive of portal hypertension with doppler
9) splenomegaly
10) presence of ascites
Real time imaging:
1) biopsy of focal hepatic lesions
2) aspiration of small amounts of ascites
3) high mean flow velocity through hepatic artery predicts poor response to beta-blocker therapy [2]
Procedure:
- contrast-enhanced ultrasound with sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles (SonoVue) recommended for evalution of uncharacterized liver lesions [NICE]
General
ultrasound (US, UTZ)
hepatobiliary system imaging
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American
College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
- Berzigotti A et al,
Primary prophylaxis with naldolol in cirrhotic patients:
Doppler patterns of splanchnic hemodynamics in good & poor
responders
J Hepatol 2006; 44:310
PMID: 16343679