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B‐scan echo‐amplitude measurement in patients with diffuse infiltrative liver disease
Author(s) -
Shawker Thomas H.,
Moran Beckie,
Linzer Melvin,
Parks Stephen I.,
James Stephen P.,
Stromeyer F. Wayne,
Barranger John A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.1870090608
Subject(s) - medicine , echo (communications protocol) , radiology , liver disease , pathology , computer network , computer science
B‐scan echo‐amplitude measurements of the liver were recorded in a prospective clinical trial involving 56 persons—28 normal volunteers and 28 patients with Gaucher disease. The nonspecular liver parenchymal echoes were found to be abnormally elevated in Gaucher patients despite relatively normal liver biochemical values and absence of symptomatic liver disease. Echo amplitude corresponded directly to the amount and histologic distribution of abnormal glycolipid accumulation within the liver. The highest abnormal values were recorded when there was clumping of the glycolipid cells, producing discontinuities within the range of ultrasound resolution. B‐scan echo‐amplitude measurements accurately represent the degree of histologic abnormality in Gaucher patients, suggesting that this technique should be useful for monitoring enzyme replacement therapy.