Differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions using ultrasound confirmed with histopathology

Abstract

Advances in imaging technology over the past decades have contributed to better characterization of hepatic lesions. This study aims to differentiate focal hepatic lesions from their ultrasound (U/S) features and compared the obtained results with histopathology. A descriptive retrospective study of 100 patients who had focal hepatic lesions were reviewed during the period from 2012 to 2019 at King Abdul-Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, KSA. The inclusion criteria were Adults Saudi patients, ages 18 and above. LG-9 and Philips ultrasound machines with 3.5 MHz transducers were used in this study. Age group (55 to 80 years) represented 44%, mean age was 49 years, 92% were married. Regarding shape of the lesions during U/S scan, 47% of irregular outline were malignant (p=0.00), 93% of the rounded lesions were benign (p=0.00),86% of well-defined lesions margins were benign in histopathology, 61% ill-defined margin lesions were malignant and 73% of hyperechoic lesions were hemangioma (p=0.02). Regarding nature of hepatic lesions during U/S, 87% of solid lesions were malignant (p=0.03), while 89% of cystic lesions were benign. 61% of hypoechoic lesions were malignant. 80% from vascular lesions under color Doppler were benign. U/S sensitivity and specificity were 93.5 and 98%, respectively. U/S is a useful tool in differentiation cystic hepatic lesions from solid (p=0.03). Comparable studies with large samples must be done in Taif region to provide data base for hepatic lesions.

Keywords: Ultrasound, liver, lesions, benign, malignancy, histopathology.

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