What a liver ultrasound reveals, deciphering the norm and pathology. What is the interpretation of the results and normal indicators of an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs? Common bile duct

Ultrasound examination of the liver allows you to determine the characteristics of the organ. It is carried out in the presence of symptoms of certain diseases, as well as for preventive purposes for people at risk.

Ultrasound is a type of diagnostic procedure when, through the interaction of a device, it becomes possible to study the structure of the liver. The method is reliable and allows you to determine individual indicators and parameters.

Anatomy

The liver is one of the largest organs. Its size and weight vary depending on age.

In an adult, the weight of the organ ranges from 1300-1800 g. In newborns, it occupies almost half of the abdominal cavity.

The organ is covered on all sides by peritoneum. The exception is the gate and the back of the surface. The parenchyma is covered with a fibrous membrane.

The liver is located on the right under the diaphragm, has a triangular shape, it consists of soft pinkish-brown tissue. Average dimensions are approximately 18 cm in length and 13 cm in width. The organ consists of two lobes, which are separated from each other by a curved ligament. The right lobe is 6 times larger than the left.

The body is responsible for:

• Digestion. Plays an important role in the production of bile.
• Metabolism. All blood passes through the hepatic portal vein. It is responsible for the absorption of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and their transformation into biologically useful materials.
• Detoxification. Hepatocytes control the quality of blood and remove toxic compounds from it.

Indications

Most often, the procedure is performed on older people, since serious pathologies of the organ may appear over the years. Indications for the procedure are:

1. Yellowness of the skin, whites of the eyes and mucous membranes.
2. Coloration of urine in a bright color with simultaneous discoloration of feces.
3. Long-term treatment using serious medications.
4. on the body and
5. Abdominal pain on the right side.
6. Feeling of heaviness after eating.
7. Strong.

A procedure is also prescribed to clarify the presence and size of a focus of inflammation in the liver, which was discovered after other research methods. Sometimes there is a suspicion of an abscess in the organs.

Ultrasound allows you to determine the diameter and size of the organ, identify the presence of deviations from the norm and analyze the structure of the tissue.

Contraindications

The procedure is painless and does not imply an aggressive effect on the body through the introduction of special drugs and liquids. The examination is carried out on an outpatient basis.

There are no absolute contraindications to it, but the study is postponed if the patient was taking medications that can change the clinical picture. Infectious skin diseases may appear in the liver projection area. Then, to prevent the spread of the disease, the date of the ultrasound is postponed.

Contraindications include the patient's consumption of alcoholic beverages and food, which cause flatulence. In this case, the possibility of making an erroneous diagnosis increases.

Preparing the patient for the procedure

It is needed to obtain more accurate information about human health. At the time of the examination, there should be no gas in the intestines, so examination on an empty stomach or with a change in diet is recommended.

A few days before the ultrasound, fiber, cabbage, whole milk, legumes, fruits and bread are excluded.

Sometimes the doctor prescribes a sorbent and an enema. Drugs such as Smecta, Activated Charcoal, and Espumezan will help reduce the amount of gas in the intestines. It is possible to take enzyme preparations, for example, Pancreatin and Creon.

Video on how to prepare for a liver ultrasound:

Methodology

The duration of the procedure is from 15 to 30 minutes. The person is placed on a couch in a supine position. Sometimes the doctor may ask you to change your position.

After the procedure, you can immediately return to your daily activities and get behind the wheel of your car. In emergency situations, liver ultrasound is performed without preparation.

The specialist asks to expose the abdominal area. A conductive gel is applied to the liver projection area. The examination using an ultrasound probe begins from the right hypochondrium. If necessary, the entire peritoneum can be examined at once. The data is displayed on the screen of the device, and the doctor uses it to make his conclusion.

Normal organ sizes in adults and children

The dimensions of a healthy liver in adults are as follows:

• The thickness of the right lobe is 110-130 cm, length – 110-150 mm.
• The maximum vertical oblique size is up to 150 mm.
• The thickness of the left lobe is 50-70 mm, height – up to 100 mm.

When studying the dimensions, the uniformity, clarity of the contour, and the condition of the veins are immediately taken into account. The liver in men and women has the same parameters. In this case, the maximum size of the hepatic artery reaches a maximum of 13 mm, the portal vein - 11-18 mm, and the hepatic veins up to 10 mm.

In children, the examination takes into account age:

But these data are for informational purposes only, since only a hepatologist or a general practitioner can judge deviations and features.

What does an ultrasound of the liver show: explanation

The structure must be assessed. The edge of the liver should be smooth. After this, the sizes of the shares are examined. After this, the parenchyma of the gland is analyzed for the presence of nodes, compactions and calcifications that form changes in the signal received by the device.

Based on the strengthening or weakening of ultrasonic waves, a functional diagnostics doctor recognizes the presence of liquid and solid formations.

Developmental anomalies

An ultrasound machine can detect a large number of anomalies, including congenital liver hypoplasia in children.

The hardware diagnostic method allows you to determine:

1. Agenesis of the right lobe of the liver and the left. The latter is more common. When the disease occurs, one lobe or part of it is missing. Additionally, other diagnostic methods are used to make a diagnosis.
2. Riedel's share. It is characterized by a change in the shape of the organ. The doctor may detect the formation of a tongue shape.
3. Additional shares. They are located above the diaphragm or in the hernial sac. They are connected to the main organ by a fibrous cord.
4. Cystic and polycystic diseases. the latter appear on the walls of organs during intrauterine development. Diseases may not manifest themselves for many years.

Diffuse parenchymal changes

With advanced processes, they indicate the presence of a serious pathological process. Anomalies and changes in liver tissue can occur in the event of disorders and severe damage to the organ.

Usually, with diffuse changes in the parenchyma, deformation or thinning of the walls of the parenchyma and surrounding tissues is formed. This leads to disruption of the integrity and normal functioning of the liver.

Any type of hepatitis, cirrhosis, an increase in the fat layer in the tissues, a sharp increase or decrease in body weight, and a long course of antibiotics can lead to such changes. Signs are aching pain on the right side of the abdomen, the appearance of a yellow color on the sclera, and a coating on the tongue.

Cysts

This is a focal cavitary change in the liver, manifested by pain, asymmetry of the abdomen, and nausea. Using ultrasound, you can find such benign formations in various segments, lobes and ligaments of the liver. The diameter usually ranges from a few millimeters to 25 cm.

Cysts in the liver are found in 0.8% of the population. They occur more often in women than in men. This disease is often combined with cholelithiasis, liver cirrhosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Congenital

This type is formed as a result of a violation of the development of the ducts. It turns out to be blocked, so bile cannot come out of it. Gradually, a cavity forms. The pressure increases so much that further liver flow becomes impossible.

Congenital cysts have their own capsule. This is how they differ from other types. Ultrasound can detect both single and multiple forms.

Fluid formations are usually anechogenic. If the fluid is heterogeneous, then the echogenicity may vary.

Echinococcal

There are two forms of the disease:

1. The hydative form has the form of cysts.
2. Alveolar – tumor-like formations.

Sometimes both types are combined. On an ultrasound, the doctor will see rounded limited areas of altered liver tissue that contain fluid. Additionally, to clarify the diagnosis, an immunological test is prescribed.

Traumatic

They have a spherical or oval shape and are free from echoes. Traumatic ones develop after a central or subcapsular rupture of the liver; they can appear after treatment of a liver abscess.

Such a benign formation appears with strong blows, falls, or rib fractures.

Traumatic cysts are differentiated from hematomas. The latter do not have a clear shape or roundness. Their structure is not uniform. With progression, an ultrasound examination reveals the structure of the formation, resembling a tumor.

Tumor formations

Using liver ultrasound, you can identify both.

The first type is. It looks on the device as a simple formation with smooth contours.

Formed from vascular tissue. On ultrasound, the picture is represented by a formation with uneven contours and a heterogeneous structure.

Possible detection of the liver. This is a fatty tumor that is similar to hemanigoma and. A rare formation is biliary cystadenoma. Ultrasound shows that the walls of the cyst have a rich blood supply and multiple papillary foci.

For malignant tumors, ultrasound confirms the presence of dense formations. The technique allows you to determine the presence of such dangerous diseases as,. With a primary lesion, the ultrasound picture is varied.

Suspicion of the presence of a tumor may be caused by:

• seals in the area of ​​the portal vein branches,
• changes in the vascular pattern,
• increase in organ size,
• rounding the bottom edge
• effect of weak ultrasound conduction.

Due to the attenuation of ultrasonic waves, the image of the diaphragm becomes blurred.

Why is the organ enlarged?

The liver is said to be enlarged when its dimensions at the intersection of the organ with the right midclavicular line start from 12 cm, and the left lobe is located in the epigastric region. Such formations can be provoked by both formations and:

An increase can be assumed by the appearance of heaviness in the right side, emotional instability, changes in color and stool. Dangerous consequences include oncological processes, cirrhosis and the development of liver failure.

Liver enlargement is not a disease. This is a symptom of the disease, indicating that the organ ceases to perform its functions.

The concept of grain

The liver consists of cells that are slightly flattened. Thanks to this, we can talk about the porous structure of the organ. This is necessary for the organ to function properly.

Normally, the internal structure of the liver is fine-grained and soft.

Pathological processes develop gradually.

Medium or coarse grain appears first. The latter indicates the appearance of hepatitis, severe obesity or the presence of diabetes mellitus.

Ultrasound can show a significant increase in segments of the liver structure and heterogeneity of the lymph nodes.

Elastography study

This method is used to assess the severity of fibrosis. With a regular ultrasound, the first stages of fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatitis look the same. Previously, it was used to make an accurate diagnosis. This procedure is expensive and has many side effects.

The elastographic technique makes it possible to make an adequate diagnosis. Transient ultrasound elastometry is performed through the intercostal spaces.

A special device has an ultrasound sensor with a source of low-frequency vibrations. They reach the desired tissues and are then transformed into electromagnetic waves. This method determines the speed of wave distribution, which depends on the elastic component.

With the method, two modes are performed simultaneously, thanks to which an ultrasound picture of the liver and color mapping that evaluates tissue density are visible. This research method gives a complete picture of the pathological process developing in the liver.

Where can I get tested?

A routine liver ultrasound can be performed both in a clinic and during treatment in a hospital. Typically, you should sign up for the procedure in advance at the reception desk or through the website of the selected institution. Diagnostics are also carried out in various medical centers, which are located in all major cities.

Price

The most expensive research method is ultrasound with elastography. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, 2-3 years ago it could be completed for 7 thousand rubles. Today prices are more affordable, so on average the procedure will cost 4 thousand.

Prices for classic ultrasound examinations start from 700 rubles.

Thus, liver ultrasound can be performed in almost any clinic. This is a harmless procedure that allows you to identify the presence of pathology in the organ. As the disease develops, it becomes sensitive and vulnerable to any influence. Liver ultrasound is performed for children, pregnant women and those who are contraindicated for MRI with contrast.

Ultrasound of the liver- a research method in which it is possible to study all parts of the liver and its anatomical structures. To do this, use a combination of possible scanning approaches (sagittal, frontal, oblique, intercostal), allowing for a full examination of the liver.

Indications

Indications for ultrasound examination of the liver: determination of the size, shape and structure of the liver; jaundice; signs of portal hypertension; presence of laboratory data indicating liver damage; suspicion of focal changes in the liver; the presence of tumors in the liver, including nodular hyperplasia; need for interventional interventions; dynamic monitoring of the progress of treatment of liver diseases.

Preparation

No special preparation is required for a liver scan, but since the liver scan usually involves diagnosing the abdominal organs and analyzing the condition of other organs (for example, the gallbladder, the bile excretion system), a 6-8 hour fast is strongly recommended before the study. In this case, the gallbladder stretches, and the diameter of the portal vein decreases to normal at rest. Since standard diagnostic ultrasound examination of the liver is devoid of any undesirable effects, an ultrasound examination of the liver can be performed on a child at any age.

More details

Price

The cost of a liver ultrasound in Moscow ranges from 280 to 6,200 rubles. The average price is 1260 rubles.

Where to do an ultrasound of the liver?

Our portal contains all the clinics where you can get a liver ultrasound in Moscow. Choose a clinic that suits your price and location and make an appointment on our website or by phone.

Ultrasound examination is a high-precision diagnostic technique that allows you to detect various pathologies in the cavities and organs of the human body. In other words, this method will allow the doctor to see something that is not visible during a normal examination.

Ultrasound of the liver and abdominal cavity is used to diagnose almost all diseases of the digestive system. This method is quite simple and today is available to all medical institutions.

What is ultrasound

Ultrasound research is a method based on the ability of ultrasonic waves to penetrate into the body and be reflected from tissues of different densities at different speeds. Due to this, an image of internal organs appears on the computer screen, colored in different shades.

Denser fabrics are dyed more intensely, softer ones - pale shades. Typically, ultrasound images are black and white, so organs appear in all shades of gray and black. The image is obtained in a two-dimensional plane - slices. You can evaluate the consistency of the organ, its homogeneity, the presence of liquid contents in the cavities, foreign bodies or stones.

How to prepare a patient for an abdominal ultrasound

Such an examination should be performed on an empty stomach, that is, the last meal should be no later than 12 hours before the diagnosis. In addition, it is necessary to eliminate all symptoms of flatulence so that the image is clearer and all abdominal organs are visible. This procedure is called preliminary preparation.

To achieve this, it is recommended to switch to a low-carbohydrate diet three days before the test, eliminating legumes, carbonated drinks, milk, and brown bread. To prepare for the study if there is severe flatulence on the eve of the procedure, it is recommended to take Espumisan or other products containing simethicone. If the patient has constipation, a cleansing enema is prescribed. To conduct an ultrasound, children are also recommended to follow a diet and use drugs with simethicone - Bebinos, Sub-simplex. Children's Fortrans is prescribed to cleanse the intestines. If the examination is emergency, no special preparation is required.

Image may not be accurate due to flatulence

When should it be carried out?

Ultrasound is a method used in routine and emergency diagnostics. Hardware examination of the abdominal cavity is used to diagnose the following conditions:

• Injury to the abdominal cavity - to detect the appearance of free fluid (blood).
• To determine the relative position of internal organs.
• Diagnosis of pathology in the liver and gall bladder.
• Assessment of the condition of the spleen.
• Diagnosis of pancreatic pathology.

How is the procedure carried out?

An ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity is performed by an ophthalmologist. The patient should be in a supine position. Before the study begins, a special gel is applied to the anterior abdominal wall - it improves the contact between the device’s sensor and the skin and the passage of ultrasonic waves. If necessary, the doctor may ask the patient to turn on his right or left side. The ultrasound machine can operate in different programs - the doctor selects the one necessary for a given patient.

What can be seen with an abdominal ultrasound

The study allows us to give a complete assessment of the condition of the internal organs and the cavity itself:

• Organ sizes: liver, gall bladder with ducts, spleen, pancreas.
• The shape of organs and their relative positions.
• Integrity of internal organs, presence of cysts, tumors, stones.
• The presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity - using an ultrasound examination, fluid in an amount of 20 ml can be detected.
• Hollow organs - the stomach and intestinal loops - are usually not visible unless they are filled with gas.
• The condition of the abdominal aorta and nerve plexuses can be assessed.
• Organs that are located retroperitoneally are also examined - kidneys, adrenal glands.

Ultrasound is a fairly informative method that allows you to detect even minor pathologies.

An abdominal ultrasound can show various organs, such as the spleen.

What diseases are diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound

The first group of diseases are pathologies of the digestive organs:

• cholecystitis - calculous and acalculous;
• purulent diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts;
• improper development of internal organs;
• liver diseases;
• cysts and purulent diseases of the pancreas.

The second group includes pathologies of the urinary organs and adrenal glands:

• kidney diseases - tumors, inflammations, cysts;
• pathology of the ureters;
• urolithiasis disease.

In addition to diseases of the internal organs, one can detect the presence of free fluid between the layers of the peritoneum and pathology of the abdominal aorta.

How is liver ultrasound performed?

Ultrasound of the liver can be performed in different positions – both of the patient and the device’s sensor. This allows you to examine the organ comprehensively. The liver is assessed in longitudinal, oblique and transverse positions of the sensor. For greater accuracy, the sensor can be rotated in a circular motion.

How is the liver assessed by ultrasound?

To assess the ultrasound condition of the liver, a number of criteria are used:

• Position of the organ in the abdominal cavity - its normal location is the area of ​​the right hypochondrium.
• Mobility of the liver during respiratory movements - normally, its edge should shift by 5-6 cm during breathing.
• Evenness and clarity of the outline of the organ, absence of bulges and recesses.
• The dimensions of the organ are anteroposterior and superior-inferior.
• The condition of the parenchyma is that it is normally homogeneous and has normal echogenicity (equal to the echogenicity of the kidney parenchyma).
• Visibility of blood vessels.

Ultrasound can assess the size of the organ

When should it be carried out?

An ultrasound of the liver is performed if a number of diseases are suspected:

• Echinococcosis and alveococcosis - cysts containing helminths may be detected.
• Hepatic or subphrenic abscess.
• Jaundice of unknown origin.
• Viral hepatitis - the degree of fibrosis of the organ parenchyma is assessed.
• Metabolic diseases - fatty hepatosis, Wilson-Konovalov disease.
• Liver tumors.
• The patient complains of heaviness and pain in the liver, nausea and vomiting after eating.
• A penetrating wound to the right hypochondrium or a blunt blow to the liver area - to determine the degree of rupture and subcapsular hematoma.

Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity is safe for the patient, since it is not invasive and does not carry an x-ray load. Can be used in young children and people with severe concomitant diseases. Ultrasound today is a publicly available method and can be performed in any medical institution.

The abdominal cavity is the space in the human body located under the diaphragm, in which the abdominal organs are located. These include: stomach, liver, intestines, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys and adrenal glands.

Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity can diagnose existing abnormalities and dysfunctions of organs, their damage (pathologies), increase or decrease in size, deterioration of hemodynamics, etc.

Indications for the study

Why is an ultrasound scan performed? If the following indicators are present, then research is necessary:

• discomfort and pain in the abdominal area;
• constant bitter taste in the mouth;
• feeling of fullness in the stomach;
• excessive gas formation;
• frequent hiccups;
• unexpected weight loss;
• presence of hypertension;
• hepatitis;
• burden in the hypochondrium;
• suspicion of cancer.

• right lobe - length up to 5 cm, thickness - 12-13 cm;
• left lobe - height up to 10 cm, thickness - no more than 7 cm;
• oblique vertical size - within 15 cm.

Increased echogenicity of the liver indicates the presence of fatty hepatosis. The edge of the liver is rounded. The disease in the last phase does not allow obtaining a clear image of the vessels of the portal system.

If the size of the liver is increased, and the portal and splenic veins are dilated, then we can conclude that cirrhosis is present. In this case, the rounded lower edge and uneven contours are noted, and the study will show large-focal echo density. In this case, free fluid is detected in the abdominal cavity, the so-called ascites.

Congestion is characterized by an expansion of the shape of the liver, rounding of the edges, an increase in the volume of the vena cava and its inability to decrease with inspiration. Occurs as a result of heart or lung disease.

Changes in the echostructure of some lesions may indicate cysts, abscesses, benign and malignant tumors (cancer).

Gallbladder

• there are no inclusions in the gland;
• head: up to 35 mm, body: up to 25 mm, tail: 30 mm;
• contour: smooth;
• the echostructure is homogeneous, echogenicity is normal;
• Wirsung duct: 1.5-2 mm;
• education: none.

Interpretation: low echo density of the gland indicates acute pancreatitis, a change in volume is evidence of chronic pancreatitis or cancer. Dilated duct of Wirsung is an indication of chronic inflammation. Cancer may be indicated by partial expansion of the gland, rough edges, indentations on the outer layer of the liver, shift and compression of the hollow vessel (aorta).

Spleen

• length: 10-12 cm;
• thickness and width: about 5 cm;
• area max. longitudinal section: up to 40-50 cm2;
• index: within 20 sq. cm.;
• structure: without formations;
• splenic vein at the hilum.

Interpretation of ultrasound: an increased size of the spleen often indicates blood and liver ailments and infectious infections. The compaction of the organ structure indicates a splenic infarction caused by a bruise or thrombosis, which leads to the destruction of part of the spleen. Deciphering the examination also makes it possible to identify gaps that formed after bruises and injuries.

Stomach, intestines, kidneys

The study of these abdominal structures is to determine the presence or absence of a lesion. If deviated, fluid may accumulate in the intestinal lumen.

If necessary, an ultrasound examination of the kidneys is additionally included in the conclusion. Kidney diagnostics are normal:

• width: 5-6 cm;
• length: 11 cm;
• thickness: 4-5 cm;
• parenchyma: no more than 23 mm;
• pelvis: no changes;
• lumens of the pelvis and ureters without unnecessary inclusions.

The lymph nodes

The norm of ultrasound of the lymph nodes of the retroperitoneal space suggests the absence of their visualization during scanning. This means that under normal conditions, lymph nodes are not visible on ultrasound.

When interpreting an ultrasound examination, enlarged lymph nodes are an indicator of infectious infection of the abdominal organs or the formation of malignant tumors (cancer). Organs enlarge due to blood cancer cells, or due to metastases of a tumor of an organ located near the lymph node.

Doctor's report

The specialist draws a conclusion about diseases and abnormalities of the abdominal organs, lists the data obtained, and interprets them. The conclusion may include a note that echo signs were not identified if there was a need to examine any organ. In any case, the final conclusion is made by the doctor who referred you for the ultrasound.

What does an abdominal ultrasound show? Currently, the study is the fastest, simplest, most accurate and safe diagnostic method. Behind the anterior wall of the abdomen is a large space that represents the abdominal cavity. Various organs are located here, and it is their condition that is reflected by ultrasound examination:

• stomach;
• pancreas;
• intestines;
• liver;
• spleen;
• bile ducts: extra- and intrahepatic;
• kidneys;
• gallbladder;
• abdominal section of the aorta, as well as its branches;
• adrenal glands;
• lymphatic vessels and trunks;
• lymph nodes;
• nerve plexuses;
• department of the nervous autonomic system.

What does an abdominal ultrasound show? This is a common question. The abdominal cavity has two layers of peritoneum - a thin membrane. The inflammatory process occurring in it is called “peritonitis” and poses a threat to human life. The organs are covered by the peritoneum in different ways: some are wrapped in it, while others do not touch it at all, but are located within the boundaries outlined by it.

The cavity is conventionally divided into the abdominal cavity itself and the space behind the peritoneum. Organs located both in the retroperitoneal space and in the abdominal cavity are examined by ultrasound. Such a study can determine structural damage, inflammation, reduction or enlargement of the organ, pathological formations, and negative changes in blood supply. Ultrasound will not be able to reveal how a healthy or diseased organ copes with its functional responsibilities.

What does an abdominal ultrasound show?

Thanks to the study, it is possible to establish the cause of the pathology in the following situations:

• abdominal pain or discomfort;
• bitterness in the mouth;
• feeling of a full stomach;
• excessive gas formation;
• intolerance to fatty foods;
• frequent attacks of hiccups;
• feeling of heaviness in the left or right hypochondrium;
• high blood pressure;
• jaundice;
• pain in the lower back;
• weight loss that is not related to diets;
• high temperature without the presence of colds;
• increase in abdominal size;
• as a control over the effectiveness of therapy for pathological changes affecting the organs of the digestive system;
• as a form of routine examination, including also cholelithiasis and organ structure abnormalities.

An abdominal examination can also be prescribed for pregnant women in order to monitor the normal development and location of the fetus.

Abdominal ultrasound showing intestines?

Preparing for an abdominal ultrasound

To get the most accurate result, you need to properly prepare for the study. Gases accumulating in the intestines may interfere with a clear scan. To minimize their number, experts recommend switching to a more gentle diet at least two to three days before the test.

It is advisable not to consume all types of baked goods and not to eat fatty meat. Nuts, legumes, fruits, raw vegetables, various sodas, and fresh milk also cause excessive gas formation, and you should not drink or eat them before scanning. Drinking alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. When scheduling a test in the morning, it is better to do it on an empty stomach, and you should even refuse plain water.

During the afternoon study, the last meal should be no later than 4-5 hours. It is also not recommended to drink water or any drinks. What an abdominal ultrasound shows can also be clarified by your doctor.

Before the study, for prevention, the specialist may prescribe the use of laxatives that reduce the formation of gases or improve the digestion of medications. On the day of the ultrasound scan, it is imperative to relieve the intestines. If a laxative does not help you go to the toilet, then you can use a cleansing enema in the morning and evening. Patients should bring their own sheets and tissues to the examination.

Will an abdominal ultrasound show pathologies in the liver?

Liver examination

An organ such as the liver is the most important not only in the abdominal cavity, but in principle in the entire human body. It is she who is responsible for the synthesis of necessary substances, as well as the neutralization of accumulated harmful toxins. When is liver ultrasound recommended:

• If there is a suspicion of neoplasms, abscesses, injuries.
• When examining a patient whose tests reflect abnormalities in liver function.
• During the treatment of AIDS, hepatitis, cancer or infectious diseases.
• For the selection of contraceptives or treatment of gynecological diseases.
• With a comprehensive analysis of the state of organs.
• As a preventive examination, which is carried out every year.

Using an ultrasound of the liver, a specialist can identify many defects in its condition or functioning. Most often, ultrasound is used to diagnose:

• hepatitis of various origins;
• liver cirrhosis;
• various tumors;
• the presence of abscesses and cystic formations;
• liver obesity (fatty infiltration or steatosis).

By examining the liver, other diseases that are less common can also be seen. Will an abdominal ultrasound show gallbladder disease?

Gallbladder examination

A scan is prescribed to determine the motor functions of the gallbladder, which is located in the abdominal cavity. To determine its motility, the number of contractions of the organ over a certain time interval is measured. Ultrasound makes it possible to determine:

• dyskinesia of any type (hypo- and hypertonicity, sphincter insufficiency, spasms);
• inflammatory pathologies: cholangitis, cholecystitis, cholecystocholangitis. Ultrasound also makes it possible to determine the specific course of these diseases, their phase, features of inflammation, and localization.

It is worth noting that on the day of the examination it is not advisable to drink or eat until the end of the ultrasound.

What an ultrasound of the abdominal organs shows is of interest to many.

Study of vessels located in the abdominal cavity

The study is based on the fact that it allows penetration into blood vessels due to the reflection of sound waves from red blood cells. These waves, after certain transformations, appear on the monitor in the form of a color image, which allows you to determine the presence or absence of pathologies. Ultrasound, or Doppler Doppler, of blood vessels makes it possible to analyze:

• venous portal system;
• mesenteric superior artery;
• iliac arteries;
• celiac trunk;
• vena cava and other vessels.

Thanks to ultrasound, a specialist has the opportunity to quickly and painlessly determine:

• the speed of blood flow in the vessels located in the abdominal cavity, and the usefulness of the process;
• the presence of blood clots, aneurysms, stenoses, plaques (even at the very beginning of their formation);
• portal hypertension and many other pathological abnormalities.

What does an abdominal ultrasound show in women?

The patient is sent for an urgent examination (ultrasound) and in case of suspicion of the following pathologies:

• liver abnormalities;
• gallstone disease;
• cholecystitis;
• abnormalities of organ development;
• pancreatitis of any form (acute, chronic);
• aortic (abdominal) aneurysm;
• tumors;
• to assess the prevalence of neoplasms (if any);
• hepatitis.

The presence of menstruation does not affect the procedure at all. With menstruation, as well as without it, this technique shows the same result. During the examination, at the doctor’s request, you will need to briefly hold your breath several times. Diagnostics is carried out in real time, which ensures the most reliable result at the end of the study. Thus, in 20-30 minutes spent in the ultrasound room, you can get complete information about the functioning of all the patient’s internal organs.

Ultrasound of the pancreas and stomach

Most often, a stomach examination is prescribed if the patient has an ulcer or gastritis. However, it is advisable to undergo an ultrasound in case of systematically manifested heartburn, constant belching, diarrhea and vomiting.

During research, tumors of a malignant and benign nature, disorders in the gastric walls, catarrhal inflammations, ulcers, various types of oncological diseases, stenoses that can develop in the initial stages with virtually no symptoms may be discovered. Thanks to the examination of the pancreas, pancreatitis can be detected in a timely manner. What else will an abdominal ultrasound show in adults?

Spleen examination

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the spleen in the human body. This organ is located in the abdominal cavity and destroys those blood cells that have been used up, transforms hemoglobin into hemosiderin and bilirubin, acts as a source of red blood cells and lymphocytes, produces the necessary antibodies, and also serves as an excellent barrier to various foreign particles or bacteria.

The spleen is a rather “delicate” organ, because it senses any changes affecting all organs located in the abdominal cavity and immediately suffers from them. That is why it is advisable to perform liver ultrasound in the following cases:

• if congenital defects are suspected;
• with damage to the peritoneum;
• for cancer and chronic diseases;
• for leukemia;
• for infectious diseases: hepatitis, typhus, mononucleosis, etc.;
• if the formation of neoplasms is suspected.

Examination of the spleen can be performed during routine examinations. Ultrasound makes it possible to detect the presence of a spleen in a patient (sometimes people can be born without it), to determine how “correct” its structure, location, stability of fixation is, whether the size is optimal, whether there is a heart attack or other lesions. Some of these indicators help determine the development of other diseases. For example, an enlarged spleen, that is, splenomegaly, may be a sign of:

• jaundice;
• leukopenia;
• infections;
• lymphogranulomatosis;
• diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

This is what an abdominal ultrasound shows in a child.

In some cases, the disease can develop almost unnoticed by a person. The patient may experience only minor negative symptoms, which are often not given any significance. But even minimal deviations in any organ can become a source of serious illness.

Lymphatic structures visualized by ultrasound

Lymph nodes located behind the peritoneum should not normally be visualized. This means that their size is normal and ultrasound cannot detect them. An increase in these organs indicates either the presence of an infectious disease in the abdominal cavity, or that there are cancer cells of the hematopoietic system. In addition, this may mean metastases of a tumor of any organ located nearby.

When should an ultrasound scan of organs located in the abdominal cavity be performed?

• not too strong, but constant discomfort after eating or prolonged fasting;
• unpleasant odor in the mouth or bitterness;
• sharp or stabbing pain;
• burning and heaviness in the hypochondrium;
• suspicion of an increase in the size of any organ located in the peritoneum;
• increased formation of gases in the intestines;
• abdominal injuries or bruises;
• diagnosed diseases: pathologies of the digestive system, diabetes;
• before preparing for surgical interventions.

Finally

What does an abdominal ultrasound show in men? Rarely is an isolated study of a single organ performed. Firstly, for the reason that all organs are very close. Secondly, their functioning is closely related to each other. Most often, specialists prescribe a comprehensive ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, during which the condition of the pancreas and stomach, spleen and liver, vessels located in the peritoneum, duodenum and other organs is analyzed. Thanks to this analysis, it is possible to diagnose abdominal pathologies in a timely manner, establish the causes of their occurrence, and begin a treatment course in a timely manner. As a preventative measure, it is recommended to do it once a year.

We looked at what diseases an abdominal ultrasound will show.