A normal (homogenous) liver is smooth and a fatty (attenuative) liver is coarse.
Echotexture of the liver describes the relative level of echogenicity (ability to bounce an echo) of a structure. Fatty liver, where large vacuoles of triglyceride accumulate in the cells, has more echogenicity than a normal liver. Fatty liver is widely seen in people with an excessive alcohol intake and in those who are obese. It may also have viral or metabolic causes. The accumulation of fat globules within the cells of an organ, such as the liver or the heart, is called fatty degeneration or steatosis.
Cirrhosis is a permanently scarred and damaged liver. It can result from alcohol misuse and from long term infection with hepatitis B and C viruses, bile duct diseases and inherited liver disorders. It presents few, if any, early warning symptoms. It is the result of long term continuous liver damage. If the liver is damaged for a short time, it can recover. However, when the inflammation is continuous and severe, fibrosis (scar tissue) develops. Irregular nodules replace smooth liver tissue and the liver becomes much harder than normal. This is described as having coarse echotexture.
The liver is the largest gland and the largest solid organ in the body. It is estimated to have over 500 functions. These include processing digested food from the intestine, manufacturing bile, controlling levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood, and neutralizing and destroying drugs and toxins. If the liver is damaged in any way, it's ability to fight infections is impaired. People with a damaged liver may sometimes lose the ability to control glucose concentration in the blood and need a regular supply of sugar.
You should always consult your doctor for professional medical advice.
Echotexture of the liver describes the relative level of echogenicity (ability to bounce an echo) of a structure. Fatty liver, where large vacuoles of triglyceride accumulate in the cells, has more echogenicity than a normal liver. Fatty liver is widely seen in people with an excessive alcohol intake and in those who are obese. It may also have viral or metabolic causes. The accumulation of fat globules within the cells of an organ, such as the liver or the heart, is called fatty degeneration or steatosis.
Cirrhosis is a permanently scarred and damaged liver. It can result from alcohol misuse and from long term infection with hepatitis B and C viruses, bile duct diseases and inherited liver disorders. It presents few, if any, early warning symptoms. It is the result of long term continuous liver damage. If the liver is damaged for a short time, it can recover. However, when the inflammation is continuous and severe, fibrosis (scar tissue) develops. Irregular nodules replace smooth liver tissue and the liver becomes much harder than normal. This is described as having coarse echotexture.
The liver is the largest gland and the largest solid organ in the body. It is estimated to have over 500 functions. These include processing digested food from the intestine, manufacturing bile, controlling levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood, and neutralizing and destroying drugs and toxins. If the liver is damaged in any way, it's ability to fight infections is impaired. People with a damaged liver may sometimes lose the ability to control glucose concentration in the blood and need a regular supply of sugar.
You should always consult your doctor for professional medical advice.
