Search

Endoscopic ultrasonography was performed in 80 cirrhotic patients and 50 control subjects. The aim of the study was to describe and classify the vascular abnormalities of the gastric wall as observed on echoendoscopy in cirrhotic patients and to compare the data with endoscopy. The size of gastric varices was classified into 3 grades: grade 0 (none), grade 1 (small or non-confluent varices < 5 mm), grade 2 (large or confluent varices > or = 5 mm). The abnormalities of the gastric wall were classified into 3 grades: 0 (none), grade 1 (thickening and brilliance of the third hyperechogenic layer with or without fine internal anechogenic structures), grade 2 (visible vessels in the third layer which deform the entire wall, with penetrating varices). Endoscopy provides better visualization of esophageal varices than echoendoscopy but does not detect gastric varices and the first signs of portal hypertension as well. In conclusion echoendoscopy should be a routine examination for screening portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients and could be used in therapeutic follow-up.

This prospective study was carried out in order to assess the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cirrhosis. One hundred and twenty eight alcoholic patients were included. A careful ultrasonographic examination of the liver was performed before liver biopsy (100 patients). In 15 cases, liver histology was normal, steatosis and/or fibrosis, cirrhosis were diagnosed in 13 and 72 cases respectively. Ultrasonic patterns were classified by the same examiner, according to several criteria: volume, irregular outline, coarse and fine bright echo pattern, attenuation of the ultrasound beam, splenomegaly, ascite, portal hypertension. Cirrhosis was diagnosed in 58 out of 72 patients (80.5%). Specificity was 78.5%, positive and negative predictive values were 90.6% and 61% respectively, and global efficacy was 80%. Irregular outline (0.66), hepatomegaly (0.66) and attenuation of the ultrasound beam (0.64) were the best signs. In case of fine bright echo pattern, the diagnosis of cirrhosis would be missed. The results suggest that ultrasonography is a good test for screening alcoholics for cirrhosis. Therefore, it is useful when liver biopsy is contra indicated or refused or when liver is not detected at the clinical examination.