ROLE OF INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMET OF LIVER TUMORS

Abstract

Intraoperative ultrasound IS nowadays an indispensable technique for the surgeon to confirm the information collected from pre-operative investigations or to gain further information that may modify surgical strategy.

To assess the utility of operative ultrasound in the surgical management of liver tumors and its influence on surgical decision making, a series of thirty patients undergoing explorations for potential liver resection of hepatic tumors were the subjects of this study, comparing the operative ultrasound with preoperative imaging modalities as well as inspection and palpation of the liver during surgery.

Intraoperative ultrasound was performed during surgery and finally a histopathologic study was done to identify the exact cellular structure of the resected neoplasms.

Pathological diagnosis was pnmary hepatic carcmoma in 22 patients, 5 with benign hepatic tumors and 3 with liver metastasis for a total of 30 patients. Seven patients had multiple focal lesions in the liver, so 40 tumors were found altogether. Cirrhosis was associated with H.C.C in 20 cases.