ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR ASSESSING MORBIDITY FROM SCHISTOSOMIASIS .2. HOSPITAL STUDIES

Abdominal ultrasound, which uses a pulse echo device to record reflect ed waves of a sound beam in 2 dimensions, has revolutionized the evalu ation of schistosomal morbidity. It is relatively inexpensive, rapid, simple to perform and portable, causes no biological hazards to the su bject and, because of its speed, is ideal for diagnosis and directing interventions, e.g., biopsies. Ultrasound complements or replaces intr avenous pyelography, cystoscopy, endoscopy, liver biopsy, angiography and other invasive techniques for studying morbidity due to schistosom iasis. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound, in comparison to these other procedures, for detecting schistosomal lesions has been b etween 80% and 100%, with the exception of detection of hydroureter, u reteral calculi and calcified bladder. Ultrasound is the best method f or measuring liver and spleen size and configuration; detecting and gr ading periportal fibrosis, portal hypertension, hydronephrosis and uri nary bladder wall lesions; and for demonstrating renal and bladder sto nes.