Characterization of Liver Metastases using ultrasonography

Abstract

The liver is one of the most common sites of metastatic disease and consequently, liver metastases represent the commonest form of malignant liver disease. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study to characterize the liver metastases in a cancerous patient s using ultrasound machine (Toshiba Xario, Diagnostic ultrasound System, with 3.5 curve-linear transducer and Sony printer). The study compromise of 50 patients with liver metastases referred to radiology department of Radio Isotopes Centre and Dr Osman Abdu Alwahab private clinic in Khartoum state, their age ranged between 4 – 80 years, Underwent gray scale ultrasonography. The result of the study showed that the liver metastases arised from ca breast were (n=9) 18%. Followed by ca pancreas were (n=5) 10%, few were arised from ca colon, hepatocellular carcinoma and ca cervix each of them were (n=2)4% and the remaining were arised from ca rectum ,ca uterus, acute lymphatic leukemia and lymphoma each was (n=1) 2% The current study revealed that the echogenicity of liver metastases was hypo echoic, hyper echoic, mixed( hypo echoic &hyper echoic), Iso echoic, hyper echoic with cavitations , I so echoic with calcifications and cystic signal in 46%, 26%,16%, 4%, 4%, 2% and 2%of cases respectively. The study found that the majorities of liver metastases arised from ca breast and they were hypo echoic, multiple, rounded, small size, and involved the right liver lobe. The ultrasound is highly sensitive, specific, safety, available and cost effective method in identifying, characterizing liver metastases and follows up the patients