Role of ultrasonography to evaluate hepatic lesions

Abstract

Abstract:Characterizing a hepatic lesion as benign or malignant is very essential for correct therapeutic plan and surgical triage. USG plays crucial role in screening of a liver lesion. The aim is to study the characteristics of various hepatic lesions using USG, differentiating benign hepatic lesions from malignant and correlating features of USG findings with clinical, histopathology or post-operative findings. This is cross sectional hospital based study of 100 patients with clinical suspicion of liver pathology and hepatic masses. All patients underwent ultrasonography examination with subsequent follow up, histopathology correlation and accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for evaluation of hepatic lesions were calculated. Statistical analysis was done using computer software (SPSS IBM version 20).Qualitative data were expressed in proportion and percentages and quantitative data expressed as mean and standard deviations. Difference in proportion was analysed by using chi square test and difference in means were analysed by using student T Test [unpaired]. Significance level for tests was determined as 95%. Thus difference was significant if p <0.05. USG proved to be a good screening modality with a sensitivity of 82.7% , specificity 95.6 % , PPV 82.7 % and NPV 95.6 % (p value <0.001 , kappa value 0.678) . Malignant hepatic lesions can be diagnosed by USG with accuracy of 87 %, sensitivity and specificity of 90 % and 82.5 % respectively and PPV and NPV of 88.5 % and 84.6 % respectively. Ultrasonography must be performed in all patients with clinical suspicion of hepatic masses, for initial detection and localisation of lesions. It has high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity to characterize a lesion as benign or malignant. Also it is widely available, less expensive and with no radiation exposure.

Correlation of ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of hepatic space occupying lesions at Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital

“…Improved detection and characterization can help determine which hepatic tumors may be amenable to aggressive surgical techniques and which indicate palliative treatment. 9 When it comes to finding and monitoring liver lesions, ultrasonography is crucial. It can be utilised as a therapeutic drainage of abscesses and an imaging guide for FNAC.…”