ultrasound on my liver versus ct scan

[deweye]

50 yr old male with a history of heaving drinking.  I recently went to ER for stabbing pains in my back side and right abdomen,  all dependent on whether I was sitting, standing or lying down.  I was diagnosed with pneumonia in my right lower lobe, given antibiotics, pain meds and sent home. My CT scan report indicated normal liver, pancreas, gall bladder, spleen, etc. Given the pain seem to come from my liver,  I made an appointment with gastro who did an ultrasound on my liver, gall bladder and pancreas.    I did research that pneumonia in the right lower lobe can cause liver pain.  However I'm thoroughly  convinced that because of my history of drinking I have liver disease.  Wouldn't the  CT scan have indicated cirrhosis or any abnormal enlargement or shrinking, or nodes?  I had blood work done three weeks ago annual exam and everything came back good within range.  I show no symptoms other than floating stools.    I don't get my results back for a few days and I'm having major anxiety over this. Anyone tell me which one is more accurate?  (the ct was no-contrast)  if that makes a difference.  Thanks,

[ralph2014]

deweye  I take it you have stopped drinking? It can take a long time for the body to settle down after stopping, also you have your lung condition and medication with that? stay sober and benefit the rewards that will come, remember you have good labs and good imaging, serious problems would have shown up, there maybe some damage, but Im sure it will be fixable with no drinking.

[Livelife777]

Your labs look really good.  
The change in WBC usually has to do with infection.
I understand how worrisome it can get when our health is at stake.
Take care of your body and you will be OK.
Be Well
......Kim

[deweye]

Hi,  Thanks for your replies.  I was told it would take two days for the reports to be finished.  I had the u.s.  done 7 days ago.  I'm taking no news as good news,  since they told me they would call me only if something was found.   Otherwise,  I would not need to be seen until three weeks later for when I was to began process of having upper and lower G.I. done.  A sigh of relief for the moment, but still can't stop obsessing about symptoms and previous lab reports.  I have since started  having consistent pale loose floating stools,  occasional itching,  I found on one of my lab reports when I had urine test done recently indicating small trace of bilirubin. Other labs although in range show I'm headed in the wrong direction.  Difference in labs is a two month period.

ast: 18  now 16   alt: 32  now 34,  protein:  7.1  now 6.8,  albumin  4.7  now 4.5, ag ratio:  2.00,    wbc  4.9   now   5.3,   bilirubin  0.7  now  .09,  have history of low blood platelet:  121  now 132 (going up is a good thing I hope)  neutrophils:  56.6  now 6.6,  lymphocytes:  34.3  now 36.6,  monocytes: 5.6  now 5.3,   eosphi8ls 3.0  now 1.8,  basophils: 0.5  now 0.3  (change in all the white blood cells has me concerned)  

[Livelife777]

CT Scan with contrast would give the Radiologist the best view, but Cirrhosis can be seen either way.  From what you've revealed it sounds as tho you do not have Cirrhosis.  That's not to say your liver is 100%, but fibrosis could still be present.
I experienced a situation where I was hospitalized with an infection and placed undo stress on my liver which was compromised but not Cirrhotic.
A few months later and still sick, my liver showed signs of Cirrhosis.  Basically my liver had enough abuse and finally it was to much.  Know
this is not typically the norm but if you continue to brutalize your liver by drinking you will get some form of liver disease.   Just wish someone had told me this before it got this far.
Please keep us posted on your follow-up visit.   Stopping drinking by far was the best thing that has happened in my life.  You still have time to live your life without fear from having a liver transplant down the road or perhaps death.   I hope that this is somewhat a wake up call that our livers get to a point and then start to break down after drinking more then we should.  Do hope that you still have time.
Stay well
....Kim

[andyhawaii123]

Hi.  Sorry to  hear you're in pain.  Usually when you go to the ER they run a CBC (Complete Blood Count) and a CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel) The CMP will show your liver enzymes as AST and ALT Enzymes. They are considered raised if above normal ranges of 0-40 and 0-41 respectively.  This is normally the first hint of any type of liver problem.  In alcoholic liver disease the AST is raised roughly 4/3 or 3/2 compared to the ALT (The ALT may present boarder to the range with the AST above range).  The doctors would have seen this and discussed it with you, especially if you expressed a concern of liver damage from heavy drinking.  Pancreatitis is a first stage problem as well.  I suffer from Alcohlo Induced End Stage Liver Disease, and my Hepatologist uses a High Contrast High Resolution Abdominal MRI for assessing the extend of damage (I'm in the machine for about an hour). Ultra sound will show any enlargement of all abdominal organs and also pockets of fluid (called Ascites) which can cause the abdomen to expand, quite a bit sometimes.  The best advice I could give you is to put the bottle down.  If you're drinking enough to worry about liver disease, you're probably drinking way too much.  I think the only benefit alcohol related liver problems has is the fact that you can halt to underlying cause by not drinking.  I don't mean to preach sobriety to anyone, but I'm only 51, and I went thru hell and back thus far.  Stopping the drink and eating proper nutrition are the strongest two factors that are improving my condition.  As I always say...take it to your doctor, research it and ask any question of him you may have.  I wish  you the best... Andy

[fntn]

Not drinking, yes, always a good idea. Utterly devastating, depends. Keep interacting with your doctors, it can be very complicated. US is very good wrt dilation's, etc but CT/MRI are good for diffuse insults, surrounding parenchyma issues, who knows what ....