Identification of the ligamentum teres hepatis by ultrasound and the clinical importance of its thickening.
In a survey of 100 healthy persons or patients without any obvious abdominal pathology the ligamentum teres hepatis (LTH) was detected by ultrasound in 87%. The mean diameter of the normal LTH was determined as 4.5 mm (range 3-6 mm). In a second group of 131 patients with obvious abdominal pathology, the LTH could be identified in 82 patients (63%). Among these, the LTH was thickened (diameter > or = 7 mm) with a mean diameter of 11.9 mm (range 7-33 mm) in 47 patients (57%). Twenty-six patients had uniform or smooth thickening, 21 patients had nodular thickening. Smooth thickening was a feature mainly seen in cases of portal hypertension with a lumen demonstrable in one-third of them. Nodular thickening was mainly associated with metastasising intra-abdominal malignancy. However, smooth or nodular thickening of the LTH may also be caused by non-pathological accumulation of fat within the ligament.
Missalek
W
W
Department of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011169:Portal Vein; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014472:Umbilicus