The Accuracy of Transabdominal Ultrasound (TAUS) in Detection of Choledocholithiasis Keeping Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) as Gold Standard

Abdur Rahim Palwa; Uzma Nisar; Mobeen Shafique; Omer Aamir; Sidra Riaz; Aown Raza Shah Bukhari; Mehwish Razzaq

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v72i2.4365

Authors

Abdur Rahim Palwa Armed Forces Institute of Radiology & Imaging/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Uzma Nisar Armed Forces Institute of Radiology & Imaging/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Mobeen Shafique Armed Forces Institute of Radiology & Imaging/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Omer Aamir Armed Forces Institute of Radiology & Imaging/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Sidra Riaz Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Aown Raza Shah Bukhari Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Mehwish Razzaq Army Medical college/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v72i2.4365

Keywords:

Choledocholithiasis, Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), Trans-abdominal ultrasonography (TAUS)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of trans-abdominal ultrasound (TAUS) in detecting choledocholithiasis, keeping MRCP as the gold standard.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Armed Forces Institute of Radiology & Imaging, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jun 2018 to May 2019.

Methodology: 102 patients of either gender, age 20-85 years with the clinical suspicion of choledocholithiasis and obstructive jaundice were included. Trans-abdominal ultrasonography was performed for radiological detection of disease. All selected cases then underwent MRCP for confirmation of findings.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 54.27 ± 15.14 years. 47 patients (46.1%) were males, and 55 (53.9%) were females. All patients were subjected to trans-abdominal ultrasound and MRCP. TAUS showed choledocholithiasis in 82 (80.3%) patients. MRCP confirmed choledocholithiasis in 81 (79.4%) cases, whereas 21 (20.5%) revealed no choledocholithiasis. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of TAUS were 96%, 80.9%, 95%, 85% & 87.86%, respectively.

Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy of trans-abdominal ultrasonography in detecting choledocholithiasis is significantly high enough to be used as a first-line imaging modality as MRCP is available only in specialised care centres.