INTRAOPERATIVE SONOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED LIVER METASTASES

The correlation of preoperative sonography and intraoperative inspecti on and palpation of the liver with intraoperative sonography was studi ed in 77 patients. All underwent elective abdominal surgery for the tr eatment of verified malignant intra-abdominal tumours. Preoperative so nography findings differed from the intraoperative findings in 22 of t he 77 patients (29%), intraoperative sonography being more reliable. P alpation differed from intraoperative sonography in 16 of 77 patients (21%), in three of whom the findings at intraoperative sonography alte red therapy. Intraoprative sonography was most effective in detecting small previously undetected, non-palpable lesions deep in the liver pa renchyma. There were no complications due to sonography. We recommende d intraoperative sonography as a safe and diagnostically effective pro cedure for routine use in abdominal surgery.