HYPERECHOIC APPEARANCE OF HEPATIC PARENCHYMA ON ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION OF PATIENTS WITH BLUNT HEPATIC-INJURY

Objective: To study the significance of a geographic hyperechoic liver parenchyma pattern on ultrasound (US) examination of patients with bl unt abdominal injury. Design: Prospective clinical study with double-b lind evaluation of images and clinical data. Methods and Main Results: We performed US examinations in 831 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital for blunt abdominal trauma and identified 33 with a geogr aphic hyperechoic pattern in the liver, We correlated the appearance w ith computed tomographic images and with clinical, angiographic, and s cintigraphic data, All patients with a geographic hyperechoic pattern showed mild computed tomographic evidence of hepatic injury (Mirvis gr ade 2, 69%; Mirvis grade 3, 31%), Excluding patients who required urge nt surgery for other reasons and patients in shock, patients with the geographic hyperechoic pattern were managed conservatively with no com plications, Conclusion: The geographic hyperechoic pattern of liver pa renchyma on US examination of trauma patients is a mild injury that, o f itself, does not require surgical therapy.