Palpable epigastric liver as a physical sign of cirrhosis: a prospective study. Export

@article{citeulike:113776, abstract = {Objective: Large numbers of patients present with abnormal liver function tests, but only a minority have significant liver disease. Physical examination may help in identifying patients with significant liver disease and in selecting patients who may require liver biopsy. Over a number of years we noted that a palpable liver in the epigastrium was common in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate this clinical sign in a cohort of patients undergoing liver biopsy. Methods: We prospectively studied 138 consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsy in a university teaching hospital. The main outcome measure was liver fibrosis measured using the standard METAVIR scoring system. Results: Thirty-eight patients had no fibrosis on biopsy, 11 patients had grade 1, eight patients had grade 2, 14 patients had grade 3 and 42 patients had grade 4 (cirrhosis). Palpable epigastric liver had a sensitivity of 86\% and a specificity of 67\% for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in this cohort. Conclusion: We suggest that a palpable liver in the epigastrium is a useful physical sign of cirrhosis in clinical practice.}, author = {Mccormick, P. A. N.}, citeulike-article-id = {113776}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.eurojgh.com/pt/re/ejgh/abstract.00042737-200412000-00016.htm;jsessionid=CnIx39KO2sqhBzjkazpDjnzxsLv5v9vDsbA3Rz1bUl5Icq61y2Yf!-1778183981!-949856031!9001!-1}, journal = {European Journal of Gastroenterology \& Hepatology}, keywords = {examination, family\_practice, gastroenterology, physical}, month = {December}, number = {12}, pages = {1331--1334}, posted-at = {2005-03-04 02:40:21}, priority = {0}, title = {Palpable epigastric liver as a physical sign of cirrhosis: a prospective study.}, url = {http://www.eurojgh.com/pt/re/ejgh/abstract.00042737-200412000-00016.htm;jsessionid=CnIx39KO2sqhBzjkazpDjnzxsLv5v9vDsbA3Rz1bUl5Icq61y2Yf!-1778183981!-949856031!9001!-1}, volume = {16}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:113776 L3 - citeulike-article-id:113776 N2 - Objective: Large numbers of patients present with abnormal liver function tests, but only a minority have significant liver disease. Physical examination may help in identifying patients with significant liver disease and in selecting patients who may require liver biopsy. Over a number of years we noted that a palpable liver in the epigastrium was common in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate this clinical sign in a cohort of patients undergoing liver biopsy. Methods: We prospectively studied 138 consecutive patients undergoing liver biopsy in a university teaching hospital. The main outcome measure was liver fibrosis measured using the standard METAVIR scoring system. Results: Thirty-eight patients had no fibrosis on biopsy, 11 patients had grade 1, eight patients had grade 2, 14 patients had grade 3 and 42 patients had grade 4 (cirrhosis). Palpable epigastric liver had a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 67% for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in this cohort. Conclusion: We suggest that a palpable liver in the epigastrium is a useful physical sign of cirrhosis in clinical practice. IS - 12 JF - European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology EP - 1334 TI - Palpable epigastric liver as a physical sign of cirrhosis: a prospective study. VL - 16 SP - 1331 KW - examination KW - family_practice KW - gastroenterology KW - physical AU - Mccormick, PAN PY - 2004/12// UR - http://www.eurojgh.com/pt/re/ejgh/abstract.00042737-200412000-00016.htm;jsessionid=CnIx39KO2sqhBzjkazpDjnzxsLv5v9vDsbA3Rz1bUl5Icq61y2Yf!-1778183981!-949856031!9001!-1 ER -