title: Ultrasound in cholangiofibromas of the liver detected by laparoscopy.
abstract: We investigated the question as to whether benign cholangiofibromas of the liver (biliary microharmatomas) show specific structures in ultrasound. Patients with single, sporadic, multiple or diffuse cholangiofibromas (n = 53), detected by laparoscopy and verified by histology, were examined by ultrasound. The single and sporadic type (n = 30) could not be detected by US. In patients with the multiple and diffuse type (N = 23) the descriptive US finding was: "increased content of fibrous tissue, cirrhotic transformation possible". Thus we conclude that patients with non-specific alterations of the liver in the ultrasound image must undergo further investigation by laparoscopy. Blind biopsy is not capable of verifying the presence of cholangiofibromas.
mesh_terms: D002759:Adenoma, Bile Duct / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography