Choi et al used ultrasonography of the liver and gallbladder to evaluate patients infected with Clonorchis sinensis. The authors are from Sungkyunkwan University, Heilongjiang CDC and Seoul National University in Korea.
Ultrasonographic findings (shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3):
(1) intrahepatic duct dilatation
(2) increased periductal echogenicity
(3) gallbladder sludge (luminal floating echogenicity)
Intrahepatic Duct Dilatation |
Grade |
none |
1 |
dilated but less than diameter of adjacent portal vein |
2 |
diameter same as adjacent portal vein |
3 |
diameter greater than diameter of adjacent portal vein |
4 |
Increased Periductal Echogenicity |
Grade |
none (normal) |
1 |
mildly increased |
2 |
moderately increased |
3 |
severely increased |
4 |
Gallbladder Sludge (Floating Echogenicity) |
Grade |
none |
1 |
few |
2 |
many |
3 |
The presence of Grade 2 or higher intrahepatic duct dilatation had the greatest diagnostic accuracy for any degree of clonorchiasis (76%).
Increased periductal echogenicity (Grade >=2) and biliary sludge (Grade >=2) had the highest diagnostic accuracy for heavy infections.
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
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