FOCAL LIVER DISEASE AND THEIR INCIDENCE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

A study of 100 patients were done at Gilani Ultrasound Center Lahore and Qadria Medical Center Bhakkar for the evaluation of focal liver disease and their incidence in Pakistan. Both gray scale and colour Doppler machines of excellent quality were used. Patients were taken from general population. All the data was stored in the computer and analysed at the end. Incidence of the focal liver disease was 9% in the general population. Important lesion identified were hepatic cysts haemangiomas, Hydatid disease, focal fatty spared areas, Hepatocellular carcinoma and malignant lesions.

Focal liver disease involved both sexes. Benign lesion were common (6%) as compared to the malignant ones (3%) Benign lesions involved younger age group while the malignant lesions involved older age group. Most of the Focal pathologies were seen in the Rt lobe. Focal liver diseases are easily picked up on ultrasound and differentiated in to benign or malignant and solid or cystic. Ultrasound must be used as 1st line diagnostic modality in case of suspected focal liver disease. It also facilitates diagnostic or interventional procedure on the liver. Contrast agents as seen international studies must be used in ultrasonography of the focal liver lesions to bring the result closer to contrast enhance CT.