The impact of high-resolution ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of non-hemolytic jaundice.
Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam. 2010 Dec;40(4):328-31
Authors: Rauh P, Neye H, Mönkemüller K, Malfertheiner P, Rickes S
Abstract
Because jaundice is a common reason for hospital admission. A fast and correct differential diagnosis is very important to increase treatment efficacy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the high-resolution ultrasound in this kind of clinical setting. In a prospective study we included 30 patients and we divided them in patients with extrahepatic jaundice and patients with intrahepatic jaundice. We observed a high accuracy of the high-resolution sonography, with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100% for extrahepatic jaundice, and a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95% for intrahepatic jaundice. We conclude that the high-resolution ultrasound should be used in the very beginning of the diagnostic algorithm for the evaluation of patients with unclear jaundice.
PMID: 21375216 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]