Objective: To assess the value of intraoperative ultrasonography in hepatobiliary surgery.
Methods: Aloka-650 and Aloka-500 with a 3.5 MHz probe were used in preoperative ultrasonography and those with 5 MHz or 7.5 MHz probes in intraoperative ultrasonography. All patients with carcinoma were confirmed pathologically.
Results: In 44 patients with liver cancer (76 tumors), the diagnostic rate of intraoperative ultrasonography was 97% (74/76), which was markedly higher than 84% (64/76) of preoperative ultrasonography (P<0.05). The diagnostic rate (92%; 22/24) of intraoperative ultrasonography for tumors </=2 cm in diameter was markedly higher than that (54%; 13/24) of preoperative ultrasonography (P<0.01). The diagnostic rate (94%; 16/17) of intra-operative ultrasonography for tumor embulus of the vein was also markedly higher than that (53%; 9/17) of preoperative ultrasonography (P<0.01). The diagnostic rates of intraoperative and preoperative ultrasonography for cholelithiasis were 99% (108/109) and 97% (106/109) respectively (P>0.05). Yet the diagnostic rate (100%; 12/12) of intraoperative ultrasonography for gallbladder carcinoma was markedly higher than that (66.7%; 8/12) of pre-operative ultrasonography (P<0.05). The diagnostic rates of intraoperative ultrasonography for choledocholith and biliary tract cancer were all 100%, markedly higher than those (83%; 20/24 and 75%; 12/16) of preoperative ultrasonography (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Intraoperative ultrasonography can raise the detective rate of the liver occupying lesions comparing with that of preoperative untrasonography. It is of valuable in selecting operative scheme and locating small lesions.