ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF GALLSTONE PREVALENCE AND HEPATIC MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CIRRHOTIC AND NON-CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS

Background: Cholelithiasis (gallstone disease) and liver cirrhosis represent two significant burdens on gastroenterological health. While cirrhosis is known to alter bile composition and gallbladder motility, the correlation between the severity of liver fibrosis and the prevalence of gallstones remains a subject of debate. Objective: To determine the prevalence of gallstones in cirrhotic versus non-cirrhotic patients, assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in grading liver fibrosis, and evaluate the relationship between hepatic morphological changes and gallbladder wall thickening.Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 200 patients at the Radiology Department of DHQ Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan. Patients were segregated into cirrhotic (n=77) and non-cirrhotic (n=123) cohorts based on sonographic features. Parameters measured included liver size, fibrosis grading, gallbladder wall thickness, and the presence of gallstones. Data were analysed using SPSS v20 with Chi-square tests (p