Department of Radiology, Seoul district Armed Forces General Hospital
ABSTRACT
The present study was performed to estimate the accuracy of US examination in predicting the hepatic functionin patients with diffuse fatty infiltration of the Liver. We compared the findings at US with the findings at CTand biochemicalhepatic function test. US was performed by using 3.5MHz sector prove. We evaluated the US findingsin terms or the degree of acoustic attenuation from the liver, the parenchymal echogenicity, the distinction ofthe portal vein wall, and the distinction of the diaphragm. Each parameter was graded into the numeric scoresranging from 0 to 2. The total US score was calculated from the scores of the four parameters. The total US scorewas compared with the difference in Hounsfield Units between the liver and spleen on nonenhanced CT images. Thetotal US score was also compared with the aspartate(AST) and alanine transaminase(ALT) levels in peripheral blood.There was statistically significant correlation between the total US score and the difference in Hounsfield Unitbetween the liver and spleen on CT (r=0.7074, p<0.0001). When the total US score above 4 was considered as acriteria, the AST or ALT level were abnormal within the sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 60%. When the totalUS score above 5 was considered as a criteria, the sensitivity and specificity were 78% and 79%, respectively. Inconclusion, US scoring system is useful in predicting the abnormal hepatic function in patients with diffuse fattyinfiltration of the liver.
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