The role of the B mode-Doppler echography in chronic liver diseases and liver cirrhosis

Abstract

An observational, descriptive and prospective study in patients with chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis was carried out at the Arnaldo Milián Castro Provincial University Hospital in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, during the period from January 2006 to January 2007, with the aim of demonstrating the usefulness of the B mode-Doppler echography in the imaging study of these illnesses. The studied patients underwent an echographic study of the liver, the spleen and the vessels of the spleno-portal axis. These findings were later related with an endoscopy and a liver biopsy carried out during a period of no more than six months. It was determined the existence of significant differences among the patients with liver cirrhosis and those with chronic hepatitis concerning heterogeneous echogenicity, nodular surface, hepatomegaly and slight splenomegaly. There were no differences concerning the caliber of the portal vein. The lowest values in the average speed of the portal vein were found in the patients with liver cirrhosis. The vessels of collateral circulation at the level of the hepatic hilum were more frequently visualized, and most of the patients showed esophageal varices by endoscopy. When there was an increase in the severity of the hepatic lesion and the degree of fibrosis, there was a decrease of the average speed value in the portal vein. It finally demonstrated the existence of a speed value for each fibrosis and histological activity degree reported by the biopsy.