title: Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma in patients with confirmed liver lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in patients with confirmed liver lesions and also to compare results from surgeons trained in FAST with results from radiologists trained in general abdominal ultrasound as part of the specialist training. Explorative laparotomy or CT served as gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included all patients admitted to our institution from 2003 to 2010 registered with the diagnosis "Injury of the liver or gallbladder". Of 405 patients, 135 patients were eligible for analysis. Seventy-two patients were examined by radiologists and 63 by surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found FAST to have a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 79.6%, 100%, 100%, and 68.9%. There was no statistically significant difference between FAST performed by radiologists and surgeons trained in FAST.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FAST remains an important screening tool in abdominal trauma including liver lesions, and can be performed at a satisfactory level by surgeons trained in the FAST procedure only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. solveigkark@gmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kärk Nielsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ewertsen
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hillingsø
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult