Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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Ultra sound

bestshot
bestshot
So I had an ultra sound done last week and the technician said my liver looks great no spots on it and the sides were soft looking. How can that be? If I am cirrhotic shouldn't it look bad? The Dr. told me it was fatty?
Hugs Debbie
barbbey
barbbey
Mine was also normal and got the same feedback, with a level3/4 bioposy.
Ozzita
Ozzita
WELL Deb, if your liver looks great I'd roll with it!!!!
Take care,

Oz
ImKramer
ImKramer
Ultrasound is a very good tool for early detection of tumours and fatty deposits. It cannot image scarring.
I too was told I had no liver scarring after having an ultrasound but found out I was stage 4 after a biopsy, fibroscan and fibrosure test.
I still have 6 month ultrasounds to screen for HCC (liver cancer).
ImKramer
ImKramer
http://www.clinicalimagingscience.org/article.asp?issn=2156-7514;year=2012;volume=2;issue=1;spage=58;epage=58;aulast=Choong

Conclusion
In summary, our study demonstrates that routine clinical ultrasound is a not an accurate predictor of early and significant liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis. Therefore, routine clinical ultrasound is not reliable for the staging of liver fibrosis and for making therapeutic decisions and for the assessment of prognosis in chronic liver disease secondary to chronic hepatitis. However, ultrasound is still useful in detecting cirrhosis.
bestshot
bestshot
The Dr. told me last year I have level 3/4 cirrhosis. That's why I can't figure out why the technician said everything looks good. That's for your input all.
barbbey
barbbey
Everything looks good in terms of tumors (no cancer, yeah) and fatty tissue (no fatty liver).

Fibrosis is scarring, which is what leads to cirrohisis, which is what Kramer says does NOT show on the sono. If you liver is hugely enlarged that will show, but you can be stage 4 with a normal sono. And once you are stage 4, you get a sono every 6 months for life to check for liver cancer.