Role of Ultrasonogrphy in Evaluating the Causes of Obstructive Jaundice

Abstract

To observe the role of ultrasonography in evaluation of causes of obstructive jaundice. A total of 100 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study done in Department of Radio-diagnosis, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. Ultrasonography was able to detect the presence of biliary obstruction in 100% of cases. Liver function tests were altered in all the patients with alkaline phosphatase raise out of proportion to the AST/ALT. The highest incidence of biliary obstruction was found in 61-70 years' age group with mean (±SD) age of the patient was 62.7 ± 12.64 years. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting the various causes of obstructive jaundice was 84.15%, 98.86% and 97% respectively. Accuracy and specificity for ultrasonography is high in detecting the causes of biliary obstruction with a slightly low sensitivity. Considering these attributes, ultrasonography can be used as a very effective screening modality in cases of obstructive jaundice.