[Value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cirrhoses. Prospective study of 128 XXXX ].

@entity1 @entity82 @entity1560 @entity101 @entity843 @entity381 @entity382
This prospective study was carried out in order to assess the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of @entity82 . One hundred and twenty eight alcoholic @entity1 were included. A careful ultrasonographic examination of the liver was performed before liver biopsy (100 @entity1 ). In 15 cases, liver histology was normal, @entity1560 and/or @entity82 , @entity82 were diagnosed in 13 and 72 cases respectively. Ultrasonic patterns were classified by the same examiner, according to several criteria: volume, irregular outline, coarse and fine bright echo pattern, attenuation of the ultrasound beam, @entity381 , @entity843 , portal @entity101 . @entity82 was diagnosed in 58 out of 72 @entity1 (80.5%). Specificity was 78.5%, positive and negative predictive values were 90.6% and 61% respectively, and global efficacy was 80%. Irregular outline (0.66), @entity382 (0.66) and attenuation of the ultrasound beam (0.64) were the best signs. In case of fine bright echo pattern, the diagnosis of @entity82 would be missed. The results suggest that ultrasonography is a good test for screening alcoholics for @entity82 . Therefore, it is useful when liver biopsy is contra indicated or refused or when liver is not detected at the clinical examination.
