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Enlarged lymph nodes in porta hepatis: Sonographic sign of chronic hepatitis B and C infections
Author(s) -
Kuo HsingTao,
Lin ChingYih,
Chen JyhJou,
Tsai SunLung
Publication year - 2006
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.20226
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatoduodenal ligament , lymph , porta hepatis , gastroenterology , chronic hepatitis , hepatitis b virus , ultrasound , pathology , virology , virus , radiology , surgery , resection
Purpose. Enlarged lymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament are prevalent in chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV); however, the clinical significance of this sonographic finding in an endemic area is unknown. Methods. Six hundred outpatients were categorized into 4 groups (nonviral, HBV, HCV, and HBV and HCV) using viral markers. The prevalence and size of enlarged lymph nodes were compared. Correlation between clinical parameters and nodal size was evaluated. Results. The incidence of detectable nodes in both the HBV group and the HCV group was significantly increased (56.9% and 69.4%, respectively; both p < 0.001) compared with the nonviral group; this rate was independent of aminotransferase levels. Nodal width was the only significant parameter when viral and nonviral groups were compared ( p < 0.05). If a width of more than 5 mm was used to predict HBV or HCV infection, the positive predictive rate was 88% and the specificity was 89%. Conclusions. Lymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament, especially those wider than 5 mm, suggest chronic HBV or HCV infection instead of only chronic hepatitis, especially in an endemic area such as Taiwan. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 34:211–216, 2006