BUDD CHIARI SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS |
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Diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome can be
made by an internist (a specialist in diseases of the internal
organs), a gastroenterologist (a specialist in the diseases of the
digestive system), or a general surgeon. On physical examination,
the doctor will note that the liver is larger than normal. Often an
ultrasound scan of the liver will show abnormalities in the size of
the liver, an abnormal pattern of the veins in the liver, and other
abnormalities. A CT scan will often show similar abnormalities.
Once these abnormalities are confirmed, the key test is called
hepatic vein catheterization. In this test, a narrow tube is snaked
through the body until it reaches the hepatic veins. An instrument
at the tip of the catheter can measure the pressure within each
segment of the hepatic vein.
In some cases, a tiny amount of radioactive material is injected
into a patient, and then an abnormal pattern of radioactivity in the
liver can be revealed. In other cases, a liver biopsy enables a
physician to examine cells from the liver itself. Cells damaged by
Budd-Chiari syndrome have a characteristic appearance easily
identifiable to a physician. |
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| BUDD CHIARI SYNDROME RELATED ITEMS |
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