Platelet count/spleen diameter ratio for non-invasive diagnosis of oesophageal varices: is it useful in compensated cirrhosis?

Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the platelet count/spleen diameter ratio for identification of oesophageal varices and/or hypertensive gastropathy in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Methods: Platelet count/spleen diameter ratio was calculated in 87 consecutive patients with compensated cirrhosis. A new cut-off with the highest sensitivity and specificity for the presence/absence of oesophageal varices and/or hypertensive gastropathy was identified.

Contrast-enhanced gray-scale harmonic ultrasound in the efficacy assessment of ablation treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced gray-scale harmonic ultrasound with multiphasic spiral computed tomography in the assessment of treatment efficacy of non-surgically treated HCC.

Methods: We studied 56 HCCs treated by percutaneous ethanol injection (31 cases), radiofrequency ablation (three cases), trans-arterial chemoembolization (12 cases), and combined treatment (10 cases). The efficacy of therapies was blindly assessed by multiphasic computed tomography and gray-scale harmonic ultrasound with a second-generation contrast agent (sulfur hexafluoride).

Association between Klinefelter syndrome and focal nodular hyperplasia.

Focal nodular hyperplasia is a benign lesion of the liver, predominantly affecting women. Its etiology is unknown. Elevated levels of estrogens have been invoked to play a role in the disease.