Comparative Analysis of CT and Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Hepatic Lesions in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis, A Cross-Sectional Study
Research Article
Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis, Computed tomography (CT), Diagnostic accuracy, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Hepatic lesions, Hepatitis < 5 year, Imaging modalities, Screening, Sensitivity, Specificity, Ultrasound (USG)Abstract
Introduction: Chronic Hepatitis (CH) and hepatic lesions are major global health concerns, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Early detection is crucial in preventing disease progression, making accurate imaging techniques essential. Objective: To comparatively analyze the CT and ultrasound for the diagnosis of hepatic lesions in patients with chronic hepatitis. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was supervised at Ghurki Trust & Teaching Hospital (GTTH) for six months, Lahore, to evaluate imaging techniques for detecting hepatic lesions in hepatitis patients. A total of 73 patients underwent scans using a Multidetector 64-slice helical CT scan (Toshiba) and ultrasound, with all observations recorded by radiologists. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25 to determine distribution, frequency, percentage, and diagnostic accuracy. Results: This study analyzed 73 hepatitis patients with symptoms like abdominal pain (80.8%), vomiting (38.3%), anorexia (39.7%), and abdominal distension (15.0%) to compare CT and ultrasound in detecting hepatic lesions. Males (60.2%) and females (39.7%) were most affected in the 38–47 age group (21 cases). Hepatitis duration influenced lesion occurrence, with 28.7% affected after >5 years and 57.5% after <5 years. Among those diagnosed, 60.2% consumed unfiltered water, 26.0% filtered, and 4.1% mineral water. CT detected significantly more lesions, including HCC (39.7%), dysplastic nodules (42.4%), and hemangiomas (46.5%), compared to ultrasound. Statistical analysis (p < .001) confirmed CT’s superior accuracy, making it the preferred diagnostic tool. Conclusion: This study concluded that CT is more accurate than ultrasound in detecting hepatic lesions, including HCC, hemangiomas, dysplastic nodules, and metastases while ultrasound is useful for initial screening, CT’s higher sensitivity and specificity make it the gold standard for diagnosis. This study also highlights a higher frequency of hepatic lesions in middle-aged individuals (38–47 years) and a strong association between hepatitis infection (<5 years) and liver disease.
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