title: Hepatic parenchymal calcifications--differentiation from intrahepatic stones.
abstract: Intrahepatic hyperechoic lesions with acoustic shadows could be stones or nonspecific calcifications. To verify this, 9 patients with hepatic parenchymal calcifications were compared with 40 patients with intrahepatic stones. A set of criteria are proposed for the diagnosis of intrahepatic stones: (A) dilated intrahepatic duct; (B) pneumobilia; or (C) 2 or more of the following: (1) common hepatic duct more than 6 mm in diameter, (2) multiple lesions in one lobe, (3) left lobe involvement, and (4) elevated serum alkaline phosphatase. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 97.5%, 88.9%, and 95.9, respectively. The criteria help in the selection of patients for evaluation of intrahepatic stones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linko Medical Center, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Changchien
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography