title: Correlation between sonographic findings and infection intensity in clonorchiasis.
abstract: This prospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of sonography in terms of the intensity of Clonorchis sinensis infection. Total 1,384 residents were subjected to this study at an endemic area in China, in which a clonorchiasis control program had been performed. History taking, fecal examination, and sonography were performed, and 87.8% of the subjects were found to be egg positive. Sonography showed intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (IHDD) in 68.4% of the subjects, increased periductal echogenicity (IPDE) in 24.5%, and gallbladder sludge (GBS) in 20.8%. Moreover, the grades of these sonographic findings were higher in subjects with heavier infections as determined by egg counts. IHDD was found to be the most accurate sonographic indicator of any infection degree (76.3), whereas IPDE and GBS were useful only in cases of heavy infection. Subjective symptoms were found to be only poorly correlated with sonographic findings or infection intensity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mschoi@smc.samsung.co.kr
authors.forename: Moon Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dongil
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Seung-Yull
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kwang-Seon
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Han-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rim
authors.forename: Sung-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003003:Clonorchiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003004:Clonorchis sinensis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional