What Is Fatty Liver
Fatty liver is a condition in which fat accumulates within liver cells, most commonly in the form of triglycerides. It may involve only fat accumulation or may be accompanied by liver inflammation. In some patients, this chronic inflammation may lead to liver fibrosis or, as it is called, cirrhosis. The exact cause of this condition is currently not definitively known and may involve multiple contributing factors.
Risk Factors for Fatty Liver
The key factor leading to fatty liver is insulin resistance, and subsequently there may be other mechanisms that trigger inflammation and death of liver cells that already have fat deposited in them. Most patients do not show clear symptoms. Some may experience a sense of fullness or discomfort under the right rib cage, or in long-standing cases may develop early symptoms of cirrhosis such as fatigue, abdominal enlargement, etc. It is often found incidentally through blood tests during annual health checkups, which may allow the risk of this condition to progress until it becomes difficult to treat.
What Is Liver Fibrosis and Fat Measurement Like
At present, tests to measure liver fibrosis and fat accumulation in the liver have been developed using diagnostic tools and technology to help assess the presence of fibrosis in liver tissue. In addition to being able to evaluate fibrosis in liver tissue in patients with early-stage cirrhosis, as well as monitor results, assess severity to plan treatment, and diagnose complications in patients with cirrhosis as an alternative to liver biopsy, it can also assess and display the amount of fat accumulation in the liver for patients at risk of fatty liver (Fatty Liver) at the same time in a single session quickly and with clear localization. Patients do not experience pain or any complications during or after the examination.
What Is the Principle of Liver Fibrosis and Fat Measurement?
- Testing for fibrosis in liver tissue works by sending sound waves into the liver tissue and using ultrasound waves to measure the speed of the reflected sound waves to evaluate how soft or hard the liver tissue is, based on the principle that if the liver begins to harden, the reflected sound waves will travel faster and the resulting value will be higher, with the unit of measurement in kPa (kilopascal).
- Assessment of fat accumulation in the liver uses the principle of sending ultrasound waves into the liver tissue and measuring the attenuation; if there is a high amount of fat accumulated in the liver, there will be greater attenuation and the resulting value will be higher, with the unit of measurement in dB/m (decibels/meter).
What Are the Advantages of the Liver Fibrosis and Fat Measurement
- Preparation before the examination is not complicated; it can be performed immediately, with no need to abstain from food or water. Both liver fibrosis and the amount of fat accumulated in the liver can be determined with a single examination. The examination takes approximately 8 – 10 minutes and provides high clarity.
- It can examine as deep as 6.5 cm x 3 cu.cm., and results are available immediately after the examination with no wounds, no pain, and no complications after the examination.
- It can be repeated frequently to closely monitor the condition, without side effects.
- Patients do not need to be hospitalized and can go home immediately after the examination.
What Are the Limitations of the Liver Fibrosis and Fat Measurement?
- It cannot detect tumors or liver cancer.
- It cannot be performed in patients with a body mass index greater than 28 ( BMI > 28kg/m2 )
- It should not be used in pregnant patients or patients with ascites (Ascites)
- It should not be used in patients with implanted medical devices such as a pacemaker (Pace Maker), etc.
- It should not be used in patients who have received organ transplants or patients with heart disease.
- It should not be used in patients with advanced cancer.
- It should not be used in patients with other medical limitations.
Who Should Undergo Liver Fibrosis and Fat Measurement
- Patients with hepatitis B or C virus
- People with hepatitis and cirrhosis from causes other than viruses
- People with fatty liver
What Are the Steps When Undergoing Liver Fibrosis and Fat Measurement?
- Do not drink water or eat for at least 2 hours.
- Lie on your back with both arms raised above your head.
- The staff applies gel to the right side of the patient’s torso, then places the probe and emits sound waves; the patient will feel only slight vibration.
- The same position is examined 10 times; total examination time is approximately 8 – 10 minutes.
- After the examination, the patient will know the results immediately and can proceed as normal with no restrictions or prohibitions.
