Prevalence of Hepatic Space-Occupying Lesions Based on Sonographic Findings in Patients Referred to Guilan Cohort Center, Iran

Background: Early diagnosis of hepatic lesions can result in more successful treatment. Objectives: The present study aimed to diagnose hepatic space-occupying lesions by sonography in Guilan Cohort Center participants. Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective epidemiological research studies of Iranian adults (PERSIAN) Guilan cohort study (Sowme'eh Sara, Guilan, Iran) conducted in 2014 - 2017, the sample included 960 individuals of both genders, aged 35 - 60 years. A radiologist examined all individuals with sonography to determine hepatic space-occupying lesions. Demographical and clinical characteristics were recorded via a questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 16). Results: Only 2.3% of the patients were diagnosed with hepatic lesions such as hemangioma, hepatic cysts, and other lesions with frequencies of 1.1%, 0.8%, and 0.4%, respectively. Also, there was a significant relationship between gender and the presence of hepatic lesions (P < 0.05). The frequencies of hepatic lesions were 1.7% and 3.6% in men and women and 1.6%, 2.5%, and 4.4% in the age groups of 35 - 45, 45 - 55, and over 55 years, respectively. Conclusions: Hemangioma was the most common hepatic lesion diagnosed in ultrasonography examinations. Moreover, the only factor influencing the frequency of hepatic lesions was gender, which was found twice more in women than in men.