Ultrasound, one of the preferred and primary imaging methods for liver disease, is also commonly used for health screening.
Ultrasound can sensitively detect the size, shape, and margins of the liver, abnormal changes within the liver, and abnormal changes in the blood vessels and bile ducts within the liver to detect lesions and often make a definitive diagnosis.
CT is another major imaging technique for liver disease, and CT exams are divided into plain scan and enhanced scan
The liver is usually examined first with plain scan, which can detect most diseases of the liver, such as liver cysts, fatty liver, cirrhosis, and hemorrhagic, calcified disease within the liver.
Enhanced CT scans are routinely performed when the CT scan reveals abnormalities in the liver that are difficult to diagnose, or when the vascularity of the liver needs to be observed at the same time, or when other tests reveal abnormalities in the liver that are not detected on CT scan.
What is better and more appropriate in the diagnosis of liver disease, CT or ultrasound, is based on the patient’s specific situation such as symptoms, signs, existing test results, financial situation, etc., combined with the doctor’s experience in the diagnosis and treatment.