ULTRASONOGRAPHYC DIAGNOSIS OF CYSTIC LIVER LESION

Purpose: Identification and diagnosis of cystic liver lesions by ultrasound exam.

Methods and Materials: We obsereved transonic lesions in asimptomatic or simptomatic patients; Their ultrasonographyc features suggest the diagnostic, having into account clinical, biological and anamnestic data.

Cystic lesions of the liver can be derived from a variety of pathologic processes. A simple histologic classification separates hepatic cysts into two major categories, epithelial and infectious. The epithelial cysts can be divided into neoplastic and nonneoplastic groups. The neoplastic group comprises biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma and the nonneoplastic cysts, including sporadic cysts and cysts associated with fibropolycystic disease.

The infectious cysts entail echinococcal (and other parasitic) cysts, bacterial abscesses, and so-called amebic abscesses. A cyst-like appearance can occur as in almost any neoplasm, either because of cystic degeneration or central necrosis Finally, hepatic pseudocysts can develop after trauma or focal infarction

Results: Cystic ultrasonographyc lesions have sometimes features that,in clinical context, are enough for diagnostic (simple cysts, policystic disease, hidatic cysts, trauma).Sometimes ultrasonographyc aspect only suggests the type of lesion, for the diagnosticbeing necesary other procedures.

Conclusions: Ultrasound is highly accurate in the demonstration of cystic lesions in the liver. In many situations this method is enough for diagnosis; being nonivasive, not expensive and easy to be performed is the best imaging method in following up this type of lesions.