Assessing fatty liver means evaluating how much fat has built up in your liver and whether it's causing damage like inflammation or scarring. Doctors use a mix of history, tests, and scans to diagnose and stage conditions like NAFLD or NASH.
Common Diagnostic Steps
It starts with blood tests checking liver enzymes (ALT/AST), ruling out other causes like viruses, and scoring fibrosis risk (e.g., FIB-4 or NAFLD score).
Imaging follows: Ultrasound spots fat (>33% hepatocytes affected); FibroScan measures stiffness for scarring; MRI or CT quantifies fat precisely (>5-6% abnormal).
Gold Standard: Liver Biopsy
A needle sample examines fat, inflammation, and fibrosis under microscope—NAS score grades severity. Non-invasive options often suffice first.
Early detection via routine checks prevents progression to cirrhosis; lifestyle tweaks reverse mild cases.
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