What does a heterogeneous liver mean?

What does a heterogeneous liver mean?

1 One of the main causes of heterogeneous echogenicity of the liver is chronic liver disease/cirrhosis (Figure 1 of the supplementary material). Other common conditions leading to heterogeneous echogenicity are patchy steatosis and diffuse tumor infiltration.

Is heterogeneous liver serious?

It is a heterogeneous disease encompassing a broad spectrum of histologic states characterized universally by macrovesicular hepatic steatosis. NAFLD is now recognized as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality.

Is heterogeneous liver curable?

There is currently no cure for cirrhosis. Your doctor may treat your symptoms caused by cirrhosis by recommending lifestyle changes, medication, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Liver transplantation is also an option for some patients.

What is heterogeneous Echotexture of liver?

An ultrasound examination is usually reported as showing a bright or fatty liver. In those with cirrhosis a heterogeneous or coarse echotexture, a nodular outline or splenomegaly may be found, but patients with cirrhosis may have a normal ultrasound.

What does homogeneous mean in ultrasound?

Homogeneous: organ parenchyma is uniform in echogenicity (Figure 1-4). • Inhomogeneous or heterogeneous: organ parenchyma is not uniform in echogenicity (Figure 1-5).

What is the last stage of liver disease called?

Cirrhosis is a late stage of liver disease where the liver is severely scarred but may still be able to perform its function to support life. When the liver is no longer able to perform its work adequately, its goes into liver failure. Most patients who develop chronic liver failure have underlying cirrhosis.

What is meant by homogeneous Echotexture?

There are three categories of tissue composition according to the BI-RADS lexicon 1: homogeneous background echotexture – fat. the bulk of the breast is comprised of fat lobules and uniformly echogenic bands of connective tissue.

What does heterogeneous in Echotexture mean?

Echotexture (echoes distribution) Homogeneous: uniform appearance of the thyroid parenchyma. Heterogeneous: non-uniform appearance of the parenchyma, due to an irregular echo pattern showing numerous micro-nodules or echogenic septa.