CHAPTER 2 - Conventional ultrasound findings in chronic liver disease

Abstract

Conventional ultrasound is the most widely used technique for the assessment of chronic liver disease. The newer techniques for the estimation of liver stiffness, dispersion, and fat quantification are more accurate and quantitative, and are replacing conventional ultrasound techniques for the evaluation of liver fibrosis, the quantification of liver fat content, and perhaps for getting information about viscosity. However, high quality B-mode images without artifacts are required for accurate liver stiffness measurements, dispersion, and fat quantification. When the advanced techniques are not available, the use of conventional ultrasound can be used to assess chronic liver disease. B-mode imaging is important for evaluation of the liver morphological changes due to chronic liver disease. Doppler evaluation of the portal system and hepatic veins is important in the diagnosis of some forms of liver disease and in assessing advanced chronic liver disease. This chapter reviews the basics of B-mode and Doppler imaging and how to optimize these features to eliminate artifacts. It also discusses the use of conventional ultrasound in assessment of fibrosis and steatosis. The newer techniques are described in detail in following chapters.