[Diagnosis of liver trauma: ultrasound versus computed tomography]

This study used 14 of our own patients and a review of the literature in order to determine the value of CT and sonography for investigating injuries to the liver. It appears that CT, with a sensitivity of 0.93, has a somewhat higher accuracy than sonography, which has a sensitivity of 0.83. We were also able to observe typical changes in the appearances, depending on the interval since the injury. Fresh injuries appeared as isodense or mildly hypodense areas, together with variable hyperdense portions on CT. Subsequently these areas become increasingly hypodense and may evolve into cystic lesions. Sonographically, recent injuries of the liver show echo-rich, non-homogeneous lesions which may contain smaller echo-free portions. Older lesions become increasingly devoid of echoes and become increasingly demarcated from normal liver parenchyma.