An Evaluation Of The Accuracy Of Ultrasound In The Detection Of Hepatitis

AN EVALUATION OF THE ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND IN THE DETECTION OF HEPATITIS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Ultrasound is an invaluable tool in the management of patients with suspected or known liver disease. Sonography is widely and effectively used for surveillance and screening in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and for evaluating hepatic vasculature when combined with Doppler ultrasound. Additionally, sonography is the most common imaging modality for the assessment of patients with newly diagnosed liver disease. Decompensate cirrhosis with portal hypertension, which manifests through varices, splenomegaly, and ascites, is well demonstrated on ultrasound. In fact, it can sometimes be the first indication of liver disease, prompting further evaluation for diagnosis and treatment. Conversely, abdominal ultrasound imaging may identify liver modularity, suggesting cirrhosis without overt signs of portal hypertension in otherwise asymptomatic patients. Such imaging findings may lead to an extensive diagnostic evaluation to assess and stage liver disease, including the use of liver biopsy, which is invasive and expensive. Although it is important to interpret ultrasound images, aiming for high sensitivity in order to minimize the number of false-negative results, it is also necessary to recognize the possibility and consequences of false-positive examinations. A diagnosis of cirrhosis on ultrasound informs and alters the clinical management of patients. Hepatologists caring for patients who have been diagnosed with cirrhosis are recommended to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma with abdominal imaging examinations every 6 months as well as to evaluate for varices with upper endoscopy. The utility of abdominal ultrasound for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in the absence of portal hypertension has not been well validated. We sought to determine the clinical accuracy of abdominal ultrasound in diagnosing cirrhosis in the absence of overt clinical or imaging signs of portal hypertension in patients with liver disease.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

Patients presenting with hepatitis comprise the largest group of people reporting to medical and surgical out-patient department/OPDs. Following the history and clinical examination, ultrasonography has become one of the first and most useful methods of investigation. Hepatitis whether, acute or chronic, is caused by diseases of the liver, gall bladder, kidneys, pancreas, stomach, duodenum, spleen, pleura, pericardium and basal lung segments. Rare causes include aortic aneurysm and acute myocardial infection. All these conditions have useful sonographic features which help in their diagnosis except uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease, acute myocardial infarction and based pnueumonitis. The liver is the largest abdominal organ which weighs about 1.5kg and is located in the upper part of the abdomen predominantly on the right side. It has a complex structural organization which divides the lobules with enormous functional activities. All metabolic activities involve the liver and therefore the organ is the most frequently damaged organ in the whole body.

It is assumed that over five hundred separate activities occur within a single liver cell. These involve such broad categories as intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Synthesis of proteins such as fibrinogen, albumen, prothrombin and a host of enzymes, conjugation of bilirubin with glucuronide, detoxication and removal of foreign materials such as bacteria, drugs and other noxious substances, in addition to the above mentioned activities, storage of many substances such as proteins, glycogens, vitamins and minerals which including iron also takes place in the liver.

1.3  Objective of the Study

1. To examine the effect of accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis.
2. To examine the role of accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis.
3. To examine the effect of accuracy of ultrasound in machine error the detection of hepatitis.

 

 

1.4  Research Question

1. What is the effect of accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis?
2. What is the role of accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis?
3. What is the effect of accuracy of ultrasound in machine error the detection of hepatitis?

1.5  Research Hypothesis

1. There is no significant effect of accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis
2. There is no significant effect of the role of accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis
3. There is no significant effect of the accuracy of ultrasound in machine error the detection of hepatitis

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study would be beneficial to the health care workers, medical students, and health policy makers.

The findings would provide useful information to the patients on the appropriate ultra sound to be adopted that will bring about effective method of detecting hepatitis.

1.7  Delimitation of the Study

The scope of the study was delimited to an evaluation of the accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of hepatitis.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

In every research work, it is likely that the researcher may encounter some limitations. The researcher encountered some challenges during the period of carrying out this research. Some of these challenges include the dearth of materials for a proper and effective research work constituted a major limitation. Again, how to get the true and required information from the students through questionnaire also constituted a constraint in the study.

AN EVALUATION OF THE ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND IN THE DETECTION OF HEPATITIS

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