Liver abnormalities detected by ultrasound scan among apparently healthy population in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Most individuals with liver abnormalities are asymptomatic. Patients present most of the time with complications of liver cirrhosis. Abdominal ultrasound scan (USS) is relatively cheap, inexpensive, non-invasive, and readily available. It is a useful tool in screening common liver abnormalities such as cirrhosis, liver tumors, liver cysts, fatty liver and hepatomegaly. This study was aimed at identifying the common liver abnormalities in our environment, among apparently healthy individuals.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the results of a mass screening exercise that was conducted at Farin gada community in Jos, Plateau state, by the Hepatology unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Two hundred and eighty (280) apparently healthy individuals (without documented symptoms and signs of liver diseases), aged 18 years and above were studied. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Results: One hundred and fifty seven (56.1%) of the study subjects were females. The mean age of the study subjects was 37.8±13.6 years. The mean BMI in the study was 26.3±6.1 kg/m², and 59(21.1%) were obese (BMI = 30kg/m²). The commonest liver abnormalities diagnosed by ultrasound were hepatomegaly (6.4%) and fatty liver (6.4%). Four (1.4%) had features of liver cirrhosis on USS and one participant had a liver tumor.

Conclusion: The common USS-diagnosed liver abnormalities among apparently healthy individuals in our environment include fatty liver, hepatomegaly and liver cirrhosis.