Fatty liver disease or Hepatic Steatosis is a common cause of abdominal pain and elevated liver function test enzymes.
Fatty liver disease can be associated with alcohol abuse, diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, medications (amiodarone, methotrexate, chemotherapy), pregnancy, metabolic disorders, etc.
Hepatic Steatosis ultrasound findings include (Khov 2014):
- Increased liver echogenicity (fat appears echogenic on ultrasound).
- May have enlarged liver size.
- The Renal cortex appears relatively hypoechoic when compared to the liver (the kidney cortex and liver are usually isoechoic).
