title: Ultrasonography of alcoholic liver disease with histological correlation.
abstract: In alcoholic liver disease (fatty infiltration, alcoholic cirrhosis), the liver is diffusely abnormal on ultrasound. Changes in size, dilatation of the hepatic veins, and ascites may also occur. The authors conducted a histological correlation of these abnormalities in 22 alcoholic patients and 16 controls, grading the changes on a scale of 0 to 4+ for fat, fibrosis, and necrosis and noting tumor whenever present. Ultrasound detected abnormality in 21 cases (sensitivity = 95%) and correctly identified 15 controls (specificity = 94%). Of the 5 tumors seen, 4 hepatomas were detected and biopsied and 1 metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma was missed. Applications of commercially available A-scan module are considered and its limitations discussed. With the exception of minimal change (1+ fat or fibrosis), ultrasound detected many of the pathological changes seen in alcoholic liver disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography