Hepatobiliary ultrasonography as a diagnostic aid in neonatal jaundice.

Neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia are disorders of early infancy that represent variable expressions of one entity. Clinical and extensive laboratory evaluation are unsatisfactory in distinguishing between the two diseases. The usefulness of hepatobiliary ultrasonography in the evaluation of neonatal jaundice is described in four infants. Ultrasonic diagnosis was substantiated by laparotomy, liver biopsy or autopsy. The performance of hepatobiliary ultrasonography is recommended in all cases of neonatal jaundice in order to differentiate between extrahepatic biliary obstruction and neonatal hepatitis.