Improvement in the routine diagnostic assessment of the liver by high-resolution sonography: An analysis of 999 cases

Objective. High-frequency ultrasound transducers have been helpful in certain settings of transabdominal ultrasound examination, and their role in the evaluation of the liver surface in patients with cirrhosis is well documented. However, their value in the routine assessment of the liver has not yet been analysed systematically. The aim of this pilot study was to clarify whether the additional use of high-frequency ultrasound as compared to the standard 3.5 MHz-transducer is of any benefit. Material and methods. A total of 999 patients from a tertiary care medical centre were examined with a wideband 3.5 MHz- and a high-frequency transducer (band width 4.5 to 10 MHz) with tissue harmonic imaging using one of two high-end ultrasound machines (Siemens Sonoline Elegra or Hitachi EUB-8500). Findings on hepatic pathologies were collected on a standardized documentation sheet and were evaluated using descriptive statistics. Results. In all, 948 patients showed a plain liver surface when the 3.5 MHz transducer ...