A sonographic-pathological correlation of liver biopsies in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

A sonographic-pathological correlation of liver biopsies in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Clin Radiol. 1995 Nov;50(11):761-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96080102
Beale TJ; Wetton CW; Crofton ME; Department of Radiology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.

Abstract: The liver is commonly involved in patients with AIDS and a first line investigation for hepatic dysfunction is liver ultrasound (US) which is often abnormal. It is unclear how these US abnormalities correlate with the underlying pathological processes. A retrospective study was performed in 48 patients with HIV disease who had undergone both liver biopsy and hepatic (US), correlating the findings. Only 25% of patients had an entirely normal liver (US) examination and only 10% patients had a normal liver biopsy. The commonest sonographic abnormalities was a diffusely hyperechoic liver seen in 46% of patients and this correlated with steatosis. Forty-four percent of biopsies contained more than one histological abnormality including granulomas, inflammation, steatosis or siderosis. In addition clinically unsuspected pathology was revealed in five of the cases of mycobacterial infection and in three cases of lymphoma. The combination of multiple histological abnormalities, unsuspected pathology, and the altered immune response in this group makes the US findings even less specific than in non-AIDS patients. We recommend that liver biopsy should remain an essential and early part of the management of AIDS patients.

Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PATHOLOGY/*ULTRASONOGRAPHY Adult Aged AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/COMPLICATIONS Biopsy, Needle Female Human Liver/*PATHOLOGY Liver Diseases/*PATHOLOGY/*ULTRASONOGRAPHY Male Middle Age Mycobacterium Infections/COMPLICATIONS Retrospective Studies Sensitivity and Specificity JOURNAL ARTICLE
960330
M9630721

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