gallstone/liver ultrasound

Hi, Trish, I had an abdominal ultrasound in Nov. of 2007. It definitely showed that my liver was enlarged and if any lesions were present they would have shown, too, but fortunately the doctor told me there no lesions. Yes, ultrasounds can show a mass or a lesion. Hope that helps!! God bless you, Kathy

Dear Trish, Yes, my liver enlargement was partly due to medications and also being overweight. I lost 20 lbs in the meantime and the next ultrasound showed a dramatic improvement. I still need to lose more but I am definitely on the right track. The reason for the ultrasound was an elevation in liver enzymes. Since my weight loss, my enzymes have been normal. I also take aromasin which sometimes can cause liver enzymes to elevate. Good luck to you, too and keep us posted. Kathy

Trish I had an ultrasound and cat scan of my abdomen last year when I was readmitted to the hospital with difficulty breathing and pain -  that's how they found the gall stone. A cyst showed up on my liver too but they told me it was normal. It's a year later, and my liver enzymes are still too high so I brought the scan and blood work to a gastroenterologist who said not to worry - the cyst on the liver was normal looking and the elevated liver enzymes weren't that high considering all the meds I still was getting.

Even prior to my mx, I told three different doctors about the pain under my right rib cage and no one paid any attention! My breast surgeon even said, "you don't have cancer in your ribs it would have shown up on your bone scans." as if that were the only possible reason a person could have a pain in their right side. It amazes me how narrow the vision is of some specialists! ANYWAY - I'm scheduled to have my gallbladder removed on July 1st when they reopen my abdomen to repair the hernia. I haven't had serious debilitating pain, but it's always there, and my new and WONDERFUL surgeon says it's best to remove the gallbladder since over time a stone could lead to cancer. I'm worried a teany bit about what he'll find with my liver when he gets in there, but I'm trying not to let these scary thoughts take over my thinking.

I'll be thinking about you Trish and hoping your scans find nothing wrong with your liver. Also - if there's any questions that your PCP doesn't answer well, think about going to see a gastroenterologist. Keep us posted and may God's angels watch over you!

hi there...I too had that pain...I did have my gallbladder removed and it was inflammed and full of sludge..I did feel better afterwards, but for me, my liver had been damaged by CMF Chemo..the methotrexate can be toxic to the liver..in any case, my liver doctor told me that the liver itself has no nerves to indicate pain, but the swelling caused by the liver can cause pain...The ultrasound can show the size of the liver and abnormalities..I also had a CT scan...of course, the gold standard is a liver biopsy...but they have to have cause to do that...good luck!!

I just had my ultrasound this morning.  The tech told my husband and I not to worry.  The results came back with nothing (same cyst I've had since the CT with no change).  The only question now is, where is this abdominal pain coming from?

Blood tests should be in tomorrow. 

Golly am I glad to read this I have been thinking mets (for no good reason) except that I had BC !

I have had a pain/discomfort on my right side, rib cage area. I told my BS last week and she said "it's probably your gallbladder" I think she's right but I had it checked a few months ago with u/s and it was negative for stones. She also said it could be from radiation to that side some times it makes the ribs hurt. I wish it would just go away, and stop making me worry. I guess I will have to have it investigated a little more.

Lisa how have you been feeling?

Linda, I have been feeling soooooo much better after my gallbladder was removed..

a whole new world...

This thread is reassuring to me. On Tuesday I went to urgent care because I had pain in my chest and back, and that can be heart attack symptoms. After a million other tests, they sent me for an ultrasound that found about 15 gallstones. I was so relieved to hear that it wasn't my heart, I didn't think to ask any other questions. Only afterwards did I start worrying about liver mets.



When they do an ultrasound for gall bladder problems, is it common to include the liver? I have an appointment with my onc for next wed., and I'm trying not to spend all my time between now and then thinking I've got mets.



Lis - when you get home, we have to talk about gall bladder removal - with 15 gallstones, I don't think I'll have a choice about surgery.