Ultrasonic diagnosis of biliary atresia: a retrospective analysis of 20 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical value of ultrasonographic diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA), a retrospective analysis of the sonogram of 20 children with BA was undertaken.


METHODS
Ultrasonography (US) was performed in 20 neonates and infants with BA, which was confirmed with cholangiography by operation or abdominoscopy. The presence of triangular cord, the size and echo of liver, the changes in empty stomach gallbladder and postprandial gallbladder were observed and recorded.


RESULTS
The triangular cord could be observed at the porta hepatis (thickness: 0.3-0.6 cm) in 10 cases. Smaller triangular cord (0.2-0.26 cm) can be observed in 3 cases. The gallbladder was not observed in 2 cases, and 1 case showed a streak gallbladder without capsular space. The gallbladders of 15 cases were flat and small. The gallbladders of 2 cases were of normal size and appearance, however, there was no postprandial contraction. The livers of all cases showed hepatomegaly and hetreogeneous echogenicity. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the hepatomegaly and hetreogeneous echogenicity and the stage of hepatic fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of the triangular cord at the porta hepatis is specific. However, it is not the only diagnostic criterion, since flat and small gallbladder and poor contraction are also of important diagnostic and differential diagnostic significance. The degree of hepatomegaly and hetreogeneous echogenicity is proportional with liver fibrosis, and able to indicate the duration of course and prognosis.
Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China. lisx630106@vip.sina.com
Shi-Xing
SX
Li
Yao
Y
Zhang
Mei
M
Sun
Bo
B
Shi
Zhong-Yi
ZY
Xu
Ying
Y
Huang
Zhi-Qin
ZQ
Mao
D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002758:Cholangiography; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography