Diagnosis of Fatty Liver

Fatty liver is a chronic metabolic disease caused by excessive fat deposition in liver cells, commonly seen in people with obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Early stages of the disease often show no symptoms, and if not diagnosed and treated promptly, it may progress to fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, or even cirrhosis, severely affecting liver function. Currently, the diagnostic methods for fatty liver are becoming increasingly refined, and combining multiple examination results helps to comprehensively assess the condition.

Diagnostic Basis for Fatty Liver

1. Physical examination suggests liver abnormalities
Through palpation, doctors may find mild liver enlargement or changes in texture, but this is not typical in the early stages and needs to be confirmed by other tests.

2. Elevated serum liver enzyme levels
Fatty liver patients often have elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), with ALT being more indicative.

3. Abnormal blood lipids and blood glucose tests
Fatty liver is often associated with high cholesterol, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, or elevated fasting blood glucose. These metabolic abnormalities can assist in diagnosis.

4. B ultrasound reveals enhanced liver echo
Abdominal ultrasound is the most commonly used non-invasive diagnostic method. Fatty liver patients exhibit significantly enhanced liver echo with blurred boundaries, often showing a "bright liver" appearance.

5. CT or MRI imaging support
CT or MRI can more clearly assess the extent of liver fat deposition, suitable for patients who need further grading or exclusion of other liver diseases.

6. Liver biopsy for confirmation
When other tests are inconclusive or a definitive diagnosis is required, liver biopsy is considered the "gold standard" for diagnosing fatty liver, directly observing hepatic steatosis and inflammation.

7. Liver elasticity testing (FibroScan)
This non-invasive method assesses liver stiffness, suitable for evaluating whether fibrosis has occurred or if fatty liver has progressed to steatohepatitis, helping to determine the urgency of treatment.

8. Stem cell marker auxiliary screening
Studies suggest that certain fatty liver patients may show specific cytokines or stem cell-related markers in the blood, which may become a new screening tool in the future, improving early diagnosis rates.

9. Exclusion diagnostic methods
Fatty liver needs to be differentiated from alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, and other conditions. The medical history and laboratory results should be used to exclude these diseases one by one.

Conclusion

The early diagnosis of fatty liver is crucial to halt disease progression. Experts from the United Life International Medical Center remind us that if liver enzyme abnormalities or metabolic abnormalities are found during physical examinations, timely imaging and blood tests should be conducted to determine the cause and extent, and a scientific treatment plan should be formulated. Regular screening is especially important for high-risk populations to ensure liver health.