SONOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL ASSESSMENT OF LIVER SIZE IN NEONATES
Yang Zhendong,Liao xianmin,Zhang Binglan,et al
Department of
Pediatrics, Gezhouba Central Hospital, Yichang，China
Objective: To
evaluate the reliability of clinical methods for estimation of liver size
and to establish the range of normal value and the regression equation of
liver size in neonates.
Methods: We
measured the liver size in 184 cases by sonographic and clinical method
with a double-blind design at 1-3 days of life.
Results: The
values of the liver span and the distance of the liver edge below the right
costal margin at midclavicular line measured by clinical percussion and
percussion/palpation methods correlated well with those measured by
sonography (γ=0.73,0.79
and 0.87, all p<0.01, respectively) for the entire sample. The liver
span and the distance of the liver edge below the right costal margin were
(6.03±0.35) cm and (2.10±0.38) cm by
sonography.(5.71±0.53) cm
and (2.07±0.45) cm
by percussion. (5.97±0.50) cm
and (2.34±0.39) cm
by percussion/palation. The regression equation for the liver size in
neonates was: the liver span=3.8+0.25 body weight (kg) +0.04 gestational
age (weeks) cm.
Conclusion:
The clinical methods for estimation of the liver size are reliable and
practical.