The significance, place and accuracy of sonography in the diagnosis of liver disease (author's transl)

Ultrasonography of the liver as a non-invasive examination technique has been integrated within the recent years amongst the methods in routine use for the clinical diagnosis of liver diseases. The reliability of this technique is comparable to scintigraphy and computer-tomography. Side-effects are practically non-existent, whilst cost and time expenditure are markedly lower than with these other techniques. Sonography is indicated in any suspected diffuse or circumscribed pathological lesion of the liver. Furthermore, sonography is performed for the detection of ascites, perihepatic abscesses to evaluate the mobility of the diaphragm and in any case of jaundice of unknown aetiology. In the following study the referral diagnosis, ultrasonic diagnosis and final diagnosis were compared in 26 patients referred for ultrasonic diagnosis. In 22 out of the 26 patients full agreement was obtained between ultrasonic diagnosis and the final diagnosis. In 2 cases liver disease was suspected on ultrasonic examination, but the specific diagnosis was missed. A lack of agreement occurred in only 2 patients with respect to ultrasonic and final diagnosis. This study demonstrates the high accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis in liver diseases. Ultrasonography, scintigraphy and computer tomography give similar results. In some cases, however, clinical diagnosis may be optimized by a combination of all available methods.