Transient periportal hyperechogenicity in feverish patients: a novel ultrasonographic finding.

Purpose: Periportal hyperechogenicity has been recorded in many inflammatory and infectious diseases, including viral hepatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, toxic shock syndrome of staphylococcus infection, typhoid fever, and schistosomiasis. We aimed to evaluate the echogenicity of the portal tracts of the liver by abdominal ultrasound imaging in patients with fever irrespective of the cause.

Methods: Abdominal ultrasound examination was performed in 277 consecutive patients presented with fever at their first visit and repeated 2 weeks later after their recovery.

Results: Transient periportal hyperechogenicity was present in 39% (108 patients) of the feverish patients studied irrespective of the cause of the fever.

Conclusion: Transient periportal hyperechogenicity is a frequent ultrasonographic finding in feverish patients irrespective of the cause of fever, and hence should not be misdiagnosed as liver disease or chronic periportal fibrosis unless the hyperechogenicity persists after recovery from the febrile or inflammatory condition.