Abstract：Objectives: To describe color Doppler ultrasonographic(US) findings in livers of neonates with biliary atresia(BA) and to compare them with US findings in livers of neonates with non-BA and control subjects. Methods: US and color Doppler US findings were retrospectively reviewed in 50 patients with neonatal cholestasis and 25 control subjects. Results: BA and non-BA were confirmed in 20 and 30 patients, respectively. In the diagnosis of BA, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the triangular cord sign(TC sign) on US images were 60%, 96%, 92% and 79%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of hepatic subcapsular flow on color Doppler US images were 95%, 93%, 91% and 96%, respectively. Mean diameter of the hepatic artery in patients with BA((2.1±0.2) mm) was significantly larger than that in patients with non-BA((1.2±0.2) mm, P＜0.001) and control subjects((1.2±0.1) mm, P＜0.001). In patients with biliary atresia, about 90% of children with its γ-GGT>800 IU/L. Conclusion: The detection of BA can be supplemented by performing color Doppler US in addition to routine US, when evaluating hepatic subcapsular flow by using color Doppler US, we can potentially prevent delayed diagnosis of BA.
2013, Vol. 24 
