Recent advances in the use of ultrasound and related techniques in diagnosing and predicting outcomes in biliary atresia
Year: 2021
Type: review
Abstract: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Biliary atresia (BA) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and the most common indication for pediatric liver transplantation. The use of ultrasound (US) and related techniques continues to evolve to help diagnose BA as well as potentially to help predict outcomes after treatment with the Kasai portoenterostomy (KP). RECENT FINDINGS: There are no US findings that are definitive for BA; however, signs which are consistent with BA include gallbladder abnormalities, the triangular cord sign, presence of hepatic subcapsular flow, and hilar lymphadenopathy. Elastography techniques to measure liver stiffness may also increase the diagnostic accuracy of detecting BA, particularly in older infants or without other US findings. In addition, both US and elastography are still being studied as potential methods to predict outcomes after KP such as the development of portal hypertension and the need for liver transplant. SUMMARY: US findings in the diagnosis of BA are well characterized. Future studies will help determine the utility of elastography in diagnosing BA, as well as both US and elastography in monitoring and predicting disease outcomes after KP.
Source: Current Opinion in Pediatrics
Authors: Peace N. Dike, Nadia Mahmood, Sanjiv Harpavat
Institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3193056508