Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the ultrasound features favoring malignancy in the evaluation of focal liver lesions, to study the imaging spectrum of such lesions, and to correlate the ultrasound findings with FNAC.

Methods: The prospective study included 48 patients who were referred to the radiology department with clinically suspected malignant hepatic pathologies who were found to have focal liver lesions by ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound guided-fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in all these 48patients and correlation of usg-fnac results made out.

Results: Out of 48 patients diagnosed by ultrasound, the most common focal liver lesions seen in our study were liver metastasis (68.8 %), HCC (12.5 %) and abscess (18.8. On FNAC (72.9 %) were metastatic lesions, HCC constituted (10.4%) and Abscesses (16.7 %).

Conclusion: Ultrasound is a safe and effective method of detecting focal liver lesion. Its low cost, easy availability and lack of ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast media makes it most ideal for imaging the liver. It aids in defining therapeutic decision quickly and allows ultrasound guided interventions. High degree of specificity of ultrasound diagnosis in the present study confirms the value of ultrasonographic evaluation of focal liver lesions and suggests that it can be effectively used in the routine diagnostic work. 

Keywords: Focal liver lesions, ultrasound,  Fine needle aspiration cytology.