DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2013.v01i06.0085

Pages: 1041-1059

Liver diseases are amongst the common causes of morbidity and mortality in India, which are encountered frequently in day-to-day practice. To establish the correct diagnosis and treatment, a precise initial diagnostic imaging modality is needed. Following history and clinical examination, ultrasonography has become one of the first and most useful methods of investigation in patients with upper abdominal pain, jaundice and mass per abdomen. It is a testament to the importance of ultrasonography that almost 25% of all imaging studies worldwide are ultrasonographic examinations. Ultrasound is widely accessible, inexpensive, non-invasive, and portablewith high spatial and temporal resolution. Ultrasound is the first choice of investigation for screening of patients with suspected liver diseases. Focal liver lesions mainly comprise of liver abscess, cystic lesions, primary malignant neoplasms metastases, focal fatty infiltrations and hematoma. The signs and symptoms of such lesions are non-specific and biochemical tests have limitations in the diagnosis of these lesions. Real-time ultrasonography has got considerable application in diagnosis of focal liver lesions. It gives valuable information regarding other parameters such as site, size, number of lesions, nature of lesions and relation to surrounding structures. Ultrasonography has an important role in the detection and follow-up of focal liver lesions. It can be used as an imaging guide for FNAC and therapeutic drainage of abscesses. This study has been conducted to diagnose different types of focal liver lesions by ultrasonography as a prime imaging modality and to assess the validity of ultrasonographic diagnosis in relation to FNAC diagnosis.