Liver calcification, also known as hepatic calcification, refers to calcium deposits within liver tissue. These deposits are not a disease but indicate a past or ongoing process affecting the liver, such as healed injury or inflammation.
Understanding Liver Calcification
Liver calcifications appear as bright spots on imaging scans like ultrasound or computed tomography (CT). They vary in size from tiny specks to larger nodules, and individuals may have a single deposit or multiple scattered throughout the liver.
Calcifications are classified as focal, meaning isolated spots or clusters in one area, or diffuse, spread widely throughout the liver. These deposits indicate an underlying event or condition that caused calcium accumulation.
Common Causes of Liver Calcification
Liver calcification often results from the body’s healing response to damage or inflammation. Common causes include:
Past infections: Parasitic infections (e.g., hydatid disease, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis), bacterial infections (e.g., healed liver abscesses), and granulomatous diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, sarcoidosis) can leave calcified scar tissue.
Vascular issues: Healed infarcts (areas of tissue death from lack of blood supply) or conditions like Budd-Chiari syndrome (blocked hepatic veins) can cause liver damage and calcification.
Liver tumors: Both benign and malignant tumors can contain calcifications. Examples include hepatocellular adenomas and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma.
Healed injuries or trauma: The body’s repair process can lead to calcified scars.
Metabolic disorders: Less commonly, conditions like hemochromatosis (iron overload) or Wilson’s disease (copper overload) can result in mineral deposition that calcifies.
Detecting and Addressing Liver Calcification
Liver calcification is often discovered incidentally during routine imaging tests like ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Small calcifications usually cause no direct symptoms. However, if large calcifications impede liver function or bile flow, the underlying condition might cause symptoms such as right flank pain, jaundice, or digestive issues.
Upon detection, further evaluation is recommended to identify the underlying cause. This may include additional imaging (e.g., detailed CT or MRI) to characterize the deposits and surrounding tissue, and blood tests to check liver function or screen for metabolic disorders.
The significance of liver calcification depends on its origin. Many are benign remnants of healed processes and require no specific treatment. If an active underlying condition is identified, treatment targets that cause (e.g., antiparasitic medications for infections). In rare cases, very large calcifications causing severe symptoms or complications like bile duct obstruction might require surgical removal. Regular follow-up imaging is recommended for stable, asymptomatic calcifications.