Ultrasonographic changes of early liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Ultrasonography of prospectively followed chronic hepatitis B patients who developed liver cirrhosis were reevaluated in order to identify the ultrasonographic changes of early cirrhosis. Ultrasonographic features of 29 patients before and after cirrhosis were as follows: portal vein diameter—1.20 cm/1.29 cm (NS); cirrhosis score—5.69/7.52 (p < 0.01); spleen size index—21.99 cm²/25.84 cm² (NS). The result suggests that ultrasonographic diagnosis of early cirrhosis is not easy on a single occasion; however, the score system method is helpful in longitudinal follow-up chronic hepatitis patients. A careful comparison of hepatic parenchymal and surface changes are mandatory. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.