The Role of Imaging in the Diagnosis of Hepatobiliary Disorders in Niamey

Hepatobiliary diseases are conditions that originate in and affect the liver and/or the biliary tract. In Niger, very few studies have been conducted on this topic, which prompted us to undertake this study to evaluate the role of medical imaging in the diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases. This was a descriptive study with prospective data collection, conducted from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2025, at the Amirou Boubacar Diallo National Hospital in Niamey. It included all patients, regardless of age or sex, who underwent exploratory hepatobiliary imaging and were diagnosed with a liver and/or biliary tract disease. During this study, 118 lesions were identified in 84 patients, some of whom had multiple conditions. The patients had a mean age of 46 years and were predominantly female. Hepatic colic was the primary reason for consultation (30.95%), followed by jaundice and abdominal distension. Liver diseases were dominated by cirrhosis at 12.25%, followed by neoplastic causes, including primary liver carcinoma (7.63% of lesions), biliary cysts (5.93%), and liver metastases (5.08%). Regarding biliary abnormalities, gallbladder stones were the most common, accounting for 34.75% of lesions, followed by acute cholecystitis at 17.80%. This study shows that hepatobiliary diseases were numerous and presented with a wide range of symptoms. Ultrasound and hepatobiliary computed tomography were the most commonly used imaging modalities. Biliary pathologies were primarily dominated by gallstones and cholecystitis, while hepatic abnormalities were dominated by cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.