A liver ultrasound is a non-invasive and valuable imaging procedure used to assess liver health. This article clarifies what a liver ultrasound entails and explains common findings for better understanding.
Understanding a Liver Ultrasound
A liver ultrasound is a safe, painless imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures of the liver and surrounding structures. A sonographer moves a transducer, resembling a wand, across the skin over the abdomen. The transducer emits sound waves that bounce off organs, converting echoes into images displayed on a computer screen.
Patients are asked to fast for six to twelve hours before the procedure. This ensures the digestive system is empty, providing clearer images and better gallbladder visualization. During the scan, a clear gel is applied to the skin to ensure smooth contact. The patient lies on an exam table, and the sonographer gently moves the transducer, sometimes asking the patient to hold their breath or change positions to optimize image quality. The entire process typically takes about 30 minutes.
Reasons for a Liver Ultrasound
Doctors order a liver ultrasound for various reasons, including routine checks or monitoring non-serious conditions. It serves as a first-line diagnostic tool due to its accessibility. A common indication is to evaluate symptoms like unexplained abdominal pain, especially in the upper right quadrant, or jaundice.
An ultrasound is also recommended when blood tests show abnormal liver function test (LFT) results. While abnormal LFTs can indicate liver issues, an ultrasound helps determine the underlying cause, which may not always be serious. It is also used to assess the liver’s size, shape, and texture, and to monitor known benign conditions, such as cysts, over time.
Interpreting Ultrasound Findings
During a liver ultrasound, the radiologist examines the liver’s appearance for deviations from typical structure. Many findings are benign and do not cause symptoms or require treatment, which is important for patients to understand. For instance, simple liver cysts are common, appearing as well-defined, anechoic (fluid-filled) structures with thin walls. These are typically asymptomatic and do not require intervention unless they cause discomfort.
Hepatic hemangiomas, benign masses of blood vessels, are another common finding. On ultrasound, these appear as small, uniformly hyperechoic (bright) lesions with well-defined margins. Fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis) is also frequently detected, characterized by increased brightness or echogenicity of the liver parenchyma compared to the kidney. This condition indicates excess fat accumulation and often requires lifestyle modifications.
Findings that may prompt further investigation include solid masses, which could represent tumors, or signs of advanced scarring, known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can manifest as an irregular or nodular liver surface, a shrunken right lobe, or changes in the liver’s texture. Dilated bile ducts or fluid accumulation around the liver (ascites) can also suggest potential issues like blockages or advanced liver disease. An ultrasound is one part of the diagnostic process, and these findings often lead to additional evaluations rather than an immediate diagnosis of a severe condition.
What Happens After the Ultrasound
Following a liver ultrasound, images are sent to a radiologist, a doctor specializing in interpreting medical images. The radiologist reviews the images and compiles a detailed report. This report is sent to the healthcare provider who ordered the ultrasound, usually within a few days to two weeks.
The ordering doctor will discuss the results with the patient, not the sonographer. This discussion is important for understanding findings in the context of the patient’s overall health and medical history. Depending on the results, the doctor may recommend no further action, suggest a repeat scan for monitoring, or order additional tests like blood work, CT scans, or MRI. An ultrasound provides valuable information, but it is often one piece of a larger diagnostic puzzle.