Fatty liver is a medical condition in which fat cells accumulate in the liver. Doctors call this condition as hepatitis steatosis. Fatty liver can be of different types based on the cause. Alcoholic fatty liver disease and non- alcoholic fatty liver disease are the most common versions of fatty liver condition. Other versions of fatty liver are acute fatty liver, liver sarcoma or liver cancer. Liver is a self healing organ and many times it can be treated by optimising simple lifestyle changes.
Types of Fatty Liver Diseases
- 1. Alcoholic fatty liver or alcoholic steatohepatitis
- 2. Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Fatty liver can be diagnosed through various methods. These include,
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- 1. Liver Biopsy- liver tissue sample is excised using special scissors
- 2. FibroScan- Ultrasound of liver is carried out to calculate the amount of fat.
- 3. CT Scan
- 1. MRI
- 2. Transient elastography- When the doctor needs to check the stiffness of the liver they ask the patient to undergo transient elastography.
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Why does the doctor recommend MRI scan or ultrasound and not biopsy at first meeting with the liver patient?
MRI scan and ultrasound are the safe diagnostic procedures, which do not cause any harm to the patient. Both the procedures do not involve invasions and cutting or stitching which is the main part in liver biopsy procedure. No requirement of anaesthesia and no pain is involved through ultrasonography and MRI. Due to these reasons doctors first assess the patient with easy procedures to check the health status and functioning of the liver. However, after further examination and confirmation that the patient is suffering from fatty liver, the doctor might ask him for a liver biopsy, to know the reason and the extent of liver damage.
Every doctor is aware of the fact that liver biopsy is considered as the gold standard diagnostic procedure for liver tissue examination. However, for the normal population, when there are only a few suspects of liver damage and the doctors are not sure that the patient’s liver is damaged or not, they will recommend a simpler test. They might recommend ultrasound or MRI.
MRI proton-density fat fraction
There is a special MRI that is used to check for the biomarkers specific to liver steatosis. This test is called MRI proton-density fat fraction. This test enables the doctor to understand if the patient is having liver steatosis or not. This test is considered as a highly precise measure to detect liver steatosis.
In rare cases we can say that ultrasound and fibroscan show fatty liver whereas MRI shows the normal liver. There might be errors in the diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. MRI or ultrasound, which is better for detecting fatty liver?
MRI is better at detecting fatty liver. Fatty liver is a medical condition in which fat cells accumulate in the liver. Doctors call this condition hepatitis steatosis. Fatty liver can be of different types based on the cause. Alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are the most common versions of fatty liver condition. Other versions of fatty liver are acute fatty liver, liver sarcoma, or liver cancer. The liver is a self-healing organ, and many times, it can be treated by optimising simple lifestyle changes.
There is a special MRI that is used to check for the biomarkers specific to liver steatosis. This test is called MRI proton-density fat fraction. This test enables the doctor to understand if the patient is having liver steatosis or not. This test is considered as a highly precise measure to detect liver steatosis.
Q.2. Are there different types of fatty liver diseases?
Yes, there are different types of fatty liver diseases based on the cause of the liver inflammation. Alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are the most common versions of fatty liver condition. Other versions of fatty liver are acute fatty liver, liver sarcoma, or liver cancer. The liver is a self-healing organ, and many times, it can be treated by optimising simple lifestyle changes.
Types of fatty liver diseases
- 1. Alcoholic fatty liver or alcoholic steatohepatitis
- 2. Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- 3. Liver cirrhosis
- 4. Liver cancer
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Q.3. How is fatty liver diagnosed?
Fatty liver can be diagnosed through various methods. These include,
- 1. Liver Biopsy- liver tissue sample is excised using special scissors.
- 2. FibroScan- Ultrasound of the liver is carried out to calculate the amount of fat.
- 3. CT Scan
- 4. Ultrasound
- 5. MRI
- 6. Transient elastography- When the doctor needs to check the stiffness of the liver, they ask the patient to undergo transient elastography.
-
Q.4. Why does the doctor recommend an MRI scan or ultrasound and not a biopsy at the first meeting with the liver patient?
MRI scans and ultrasounds are safe
Diagnostic procedures that do not cause any harm to the patient. Both procedures do not involve invasions and cutting or stitching, which is the main part of the liver biopsy procedure. No requirement for anesthesia, and no pain is involved through ultrasonography and MRI. Due to these reasons, doctors first assess the patient with easy procedures to check the health status and functioning of the liver. However, after further examination and confirmation that the patient is suffering from fatty liver, the doctor might ask him for a liver biopsy to know the reason and the extent of liver damage.
Liver biopsy cannot be recommended to the general population so frequently
Every doctor is aware of the fact that liver biopsy is considered the gold standard diagnostic procedure for liver tissue examination. However, for the normal population, when there are only a few suspects of liver damage and the doctors are not sure whether the patient’s liver is damaged or not, they will recommend a simpler test. They might recommend ultrasound or MRI.
MRI is highly specific : MRI proton-density fat fraction
There is a special MRI that is used to check for the biomarkers specific to liver steatosis. This test is called MRI proton-density fat fraction. This test enables the doctor to understand if the patient is having liver steatosis or not. This test is considered a highly precise measure to detect liver steatosis.
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