
pmid: 26971434
To describe ultrasonography (US) findings of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) and to determine whether screening US examinations can identify FALD before biochemical hepatic dysfunction.This retrospective study included 55 patients who underwent Fontan procedure over a 20-year period. Hepatobiliary US findings (n=55), CT or MRI findings (n=19), biochemical hepatic function tests (n=49), and histopathological results (n=4) were analyzed. Images were reviewed focusing on the hepatic parenchymal changes, presence of focal lesions, and signs of portal hypertension.Hepatic parenchymal changes (either heterogeneous echotexture or surface nodularity) evident on US were present in 67% (37/55) and showed positive correlation with the Fontan duration. Hyper-echoic lesions were noted in 35% (19/55) and showed a predilection for multiplicity, small size, right lobe location, and irregular margin on high-frequency transducer. These lesions were not demonstrated by CT or MRI or by low-frequency transducer. Histopathological results of targeted biopsy for hyper-echoic lesions revealed lesser degree of patchy sinusoidal and portal fibrosis than seen in cases with surface nodularity. Abnormal parenchymal enhancement was commonly seen with CT or MRI in 63% (12/19) and hypervascular nodules in 21% (4/19). Most patients (82%, 40/49) showed normal biochemical hepatic function tests, despite the presence of hepatic parenchymal changes on imaging.The common US findings of FALD included heterogeneous parenchymal echotexture, surface nodularity, and hyper-echoic lesions. We suggest that hyper-echoic lesions without surface nodularity detected by high-frequency transducer may represent the early stage of fibrosis. US examination may be useful for identifying the progression of FALD before biochemical hepatic dysfunction.
Image-Guided Biopsy, Male, Adolescent, Liver Diseases, Contrast Media, Fontan Procedure, Fibrosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Portal System, Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic, Liver Function Tests, Child, Preschool, Hypertension, Portal, Multidetector Computed Tomography, Disease Progression, Humans, Female, Child, Follow-Up Studies, Retrospective Studies
Image-Guided Biopsy, Male, Adolescent, Liver Diseases, Contrast Media, Fontan Procedure, Fibrosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Portal System, Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic, Liver Function Tests, Child, Preschool, Hypertension, Portal, Multidetector Computed Tomography, Disease Progression, Humans, Female, Child, Follow-Up Studies, Retrospective Studies
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 83 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
