Diagnostic accuracy of gray scale ultrasongraphy for the jaundiced patient. A report of 275 cases
- 1 January 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of Internal Medicine
- Vol. 139 (1), 60-63
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.139.1.60
Abstract
Gray scale ultrasonography should apparently precede invasive techniques or surgery. The failure of ultrasound to demonstrate dilated ducts suggests intrahepatic cholestasis. Display of liver parenchyma by ultrasound provided the correct diagnosis of diffuse liver disease in 61% of the cases. Observation of a dilated biliary tree allowed differentiation between intrahepatic and extrahepatic obstruction, with an accuracy of 96.4%. One false-positive (0.7%) occurred, and most false-negatives were due to gallstones producing intermittent obstruction owing to a ball-valve effect. Observations of normal biliary canaliculi suggest that physiological distention of intrahepatic biliary vessels does not occur. Long-standing obstruction of the biliary tree may result in permanent distention despite surgical relief, predisposing the patient to recurrent ascending cholangitis. This stresses the need for early diagnosis and prompt relief of extrahepatic biliary obstruction.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Obstructive JaundiceAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1978
- Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography with the "Skinny" NeedleAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1977
- COMPLEMENTARY USE OF B-SCAN ULTRASOUND AND RADIONUCLIDE IMAGING TECHNIQUES1977