ROLE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND CONTRAST ENHANCED CT IN DETECTION OF FOCAL LIVER LESIONS IN A RURAL SOUTH INDIAN POPULATION

Abstract

Kuku Mariam Suresh

BACKGROUND Focal liver lesions are frequently encountered by radiologists mostly during routine ultrasonography and then are usually evaluated further by contrast enhanced CT. Dedicated triple phase CT helps in studying the nature of the lesion by the timing and pattern of enhancement. For instance, metastasis shows early arterial enhancement and early washout in contrast to Haemangioma which shows delayed wash out following portal phase enhancement. This further narrows the diagnosis which can then be confirmed histopathologically in cases where biopsy is indicated. This study aims at understanding the aptness of USG as first line of imaging in detecting focal hepatic lesions and comparing the findings with CECT and histopathology. The objectives of the study were1. To determine the diagnostic accuracy and role of ultrasonography in evaluation of focal liver lesions. 2. To compare the findings with contrast enhanced CT. 3. To compute sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography in detecting focal hepatic lesions.

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