Ultrasonography of steatosis

Author: Mikael Häggström

Planning

How soon

Within 2 months in Swedish practice

Evaluation

Viewing the liver and kidney side by side (left image) may give a false impression of hyperechogenic liver, so it's preferably done with the organ borders facing the ultrasound probe (right image, of the same case).

Liver echogenicity, as compared to the kidney, where liver hyperechogenicity indicates steatosis.

It is also appropriate to perform a general upper abdominal screening.

• 

  Abdominal ultrasonography of focal steatosis. It can br distinguished from a tumor by absence of signs of expansion, in this case not compressing the hepatic vein going through it.

Report

• Normal: "Normal liver echogenicity."
• Hyperechogenic: "Hyperechogenic liver parenchyma, indicating steatosis".