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Proceedings of the British Medical Ultrasound Society 23rd Annual Meeting (Abstracts)

The presence of normal lymph nodes is rarely reported inabdominal ultrasonography, two reasons being that many small paraortic nodes are difficult to visualize in large and orgassy patients, and that ultrasonographers are unaware thatsome of the structures visible on the images are actually lymph nodes. Furthermore the fortuitous visualization of these nodes in indeterminate cases may sway the ultrasonogrpher in favour of reporting disease that is not there. It has been reported that hilar nodes can be found in chronic hepatic disease. It is Particularly in this area that normal lymph nodes are easiest to demonstrate, especially around the distal hepatic artery: the "hepatic artery daisy chain". This is seen in some 85% of patients without any local disease whereas medial portal nodes are seen in only 15% of patients and lateral portal in only 2%. As always, as appreciation of normal appearance is essential for accurate diagnosis.