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What Does This Mean On An Ultrasound Of Liver? Is
Question: what does this mean on an ultrasound of liver? is this cirrossi$ or cancer IMPRESSION: Increased echogenicity within a mildly enlarged liver indicative of fatty infiltration or diffuse hepatocellular disease which was not noted previously. Negative for cholelithiasis. No dilatation of the biliary tree is noted.
what is diffuse hepatocellular disease?
Brief Answer:
There is no indication of liver cancer, detailed explanation of the findings below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
This ultrasound examination has not identified the findings of liver cancer.
As for the meaning of the findings, this is a detailed explanation:
- Increased echogenicity: this means that the liver seems a bit "more white" than we would expect it in the ultrasound. This shows that there is a slowing of the sound waves while they go through the liver. So, it may be a certain cause of that.
- The cause for that, according to the examiner, can be increased fat in the liver- this is a very common finding, especially in patients that use alcohol, certain drugs or are overweight, or those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol in the blood. Most of the time this is a reversible condition if the cause is avoided or treated.
- Another cause the examiner is considering is a hepatocellular disease. This means a disease that is damaging the liver cells (hepato= liver, cellular= cell). This can be due to many causes and the ultrasound is not able to specifically say which. So, more tests are needed to find out if this is a hepatocellular disease and if so, which is it.
Generally, the hepatocellular disease can be due to any disease that may damage liver cells such as certain infections (hepatitis), problems with the bile ducts (which is not your case because the bile ducts and the biliary tree are normal), metabolic diseases, toxins, drugs (if you use drugs regularly), alcohol, autoimmune diseases, etc.
If the damage of the liver cells progresses it may cause cirrhosis which is the substitution of liver cells with scar tissue. Once again, ultrasound is not very effective in diagnosing cirrhosis so other tests will be needed.
Finally, the gallbladder and the bile ducts are normal in the ultrasound examination, which also means the changes in the liver are not due to these.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
There is no indication of liver cancer, detailed explanation of the findings below
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
This ultrasound examination has not identified the findings of liver cancer.
As for the meaning of the findings, this is a detailed explanation:
- Increased echogenicity: this means that the liver seems a bit "more white" than we would expect it in the ultrasound. This shows that there is a slowing of the sound waves while they go through the liver. So, it may be a certain cause of that.
- The cause for that, according to the examiner, can be increased fat in the liver- this is a very common finding, especially in patients that use alcohol, certain drugs or are overweight, or those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol in the blood. Most of the time this is a reversible condition if the cause is avoided or treated.
- Another cause the examiner is considering is a hepatocellular disease. This means a disease that is damaging the liver cells (hepato= liver, cellular= cell). This can be due to many causes and the ultrasound is not able to specifically say which. So, more tests are needed to find out if this is a hepatocellular disease and if so, which is it.
Generally, the hepatocellular disease can be due to any disease that may damage liver cells such as certain infections (hepatitis), problems with the bile ducts (which is not your case because the bile ducts and the biliary tree are normal), metabolic diseases, toxins, drugs (if you use drugs regularly), alcohol, autoimmune diseases, etc.
If the damage of the liver cells progresses it may cause cirrhosis which is the substitution of liver cells with scar tissue. Once again, ultrasound is not very effective in diagnosing cirrhosis so other tests will be needed.
Finally, the gallbladder and the bile ducts are normal in the ultrasound examination, which also means the changes in the liver are not due to these.
I hope this answers your query.
I remain at your disposal for further medical assistance.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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