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Retrospective evaluation of abdominal ultrasound examinations were made in 36 patients who came to autopsy within 1 month after the ultrasound study. Without knowledge of clinical or autopsy data, two observers made independent determinations of the midhepatic line measurement of the liver on the ultrasound study using supine and left lateral decubitus longitudinal scans. Autopsy determination of hepatomegaly was made using hepatic weight, patient's total body weight, and patient age correlated with pertinent clinical history. Results of the autopsy/ultrasound correlation demonstrated that those livers measuring 13.0 cm or less in the midhepatic line (both supine and left lateral decubitus positions) were normal in 93% of the cases. Similarly, it was demonstrated that when the liver measured 15.5 cm or greater, it was enlarged in 75% of the cases. Used together, these two criteria result in an 87% accuracy rate in determining the presence or absence of hepatomegaly. Approximately 25% of the cases in our study fell into the borderline category of 13.0-15.5 cm.

No abstract

As more sophisticated ultrasound instrumentation has become available, more complete and detailed examinations, including computer-manipulated data sheets, have been demanded by referring clinicians. In order to fill the clinical need, many suppliers have designed and promoted computer systems of unfortunately prohibitive costs. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the simplicity of designing a personally tailored data sheet and ease of programming one of the current commercially available microcomputers to perform the manipulations. Their use is outlined and encouraged.

No abstract