Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Korea.
Published online: January 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Ultrasonographic(US) findings of clonorchiasis are peripheral intrahepatic ductal dilatation without dilatation of extrahepatic ducts, peripheral ductule dilatation, increased periportal echogenicity or floating echo debris in the gallbladder. Our purpose is to evaluate the usefulness of US (as a screening test) in the diagnosis of clonorchiasis by grading these US findings. MATERIALS & METHODS: Prospective study was performed in 70 patients who were diagnosed clonorchiasis by ultrasonogram only. We subdivided and scored (1, 2, or 3) these US findings according to their severity except floating debris in the gallbladder because of its low incidence and then graded as l when the sum of these scores is under 3, ll between 4 and 6, and lll over 7. These results were compared with those of stool examinations. RESULTS: Positive predictive values were 2.13 % (1/47) in grade l, 10%(2/20) in grade ll and 100%(3/3) in grade lll. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of clonorchiasis by US may have limitation as a screening test because of its high positive predictive value only in high grade US findings.
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