J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1997 Sep;16(3):203-207.

Detection of Hepatic Cirrhosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Usefulness of Duplex Doppler Sonography of Hepatic Vein

• Lim HK
• Lim JH
• Lee WJ
• Paik SW
• Kim MK

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the diagnostic value of duplex Doppler sonography (US) in the detection of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. MATERIALS & METHODS: Over a recent 14-month period, 50 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 50 control subjects were prospectively evaluated with duplex Doppler US. Doppler spectral waveforms were obtained from right hepatic vein with optimized methods. A liver biopsy was performed in right hepatic lobe adjacent to the hepatic vein from where Doppler waveform was obtained under US guidance. Doppler waveform was considered to be abnormal if hepatic vein showed either decreased phasicity without retrograde component or complete monophasicity. Diagnostic accuracy of abnormal waveforms in the detection of cirrhosis was calculated.
RESULTS
Waveforms of hepatic veins were normal in all control subjects. Abnormal waveforms of hepatic veins showed a sensitivity of 72%, specificity of 88%, positivepredictive value of 86%, negative predictive value of 76%, and diagnostic accuracy of 80% in the detection of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
CONCLUSION
Duplex Doppler US of hepatic veins could be a promising adjunctive tool in detecting the hepatic cirrhosis in patients with well-compensated chronic hepatitis B.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Fibrosis
Hepatic Veins*
Hepatitis B, Chronic*
Hepatitis, Chronic*
Humans
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis*
Prospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity