The accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of fatty infiltration of the liver

Abstract

The association of high-amplitude echoes returned from the liver in diffuse fatty infiltration has become recognized. The accuracy with which ultrasound will detect a fatty liver is reported. A review was made of the liver ultrasound images in patients known to have histologically normal livers or livers with fatty infiltration. Only 2 of 40 patients with normal liver biopsies had a brightly reflective echo pattern, but 12 of 20 patients with fatty infiltration showed this pattern. Of the patients with histologically moderate or severe fatty infiltration, 9 out of 10 had a brightly reflective echo pattern.