A liver ultrasound scan is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed pictures of the liver and surrounding structures within the abdomen. This safe procedure does not involve radiation exposure. A handheld transducer sends sound waves into the body, which bounce off organs and return to it, creating real-time images on a monitor.
Reasons for a Liver Ultrasound
Doctors often recommend a liver ultrasound to investigate symptoms or abnormal test results suggesting a liver condition. Common indications include unexplained abdominal pain, particularly in the upper right quadrant, or jaundice. Elevated liver enzymes detected in blood tests can also prompt a referral, signaling liver inflammation or damage. The scan also monitors known liver conditions, evaluates treatment effectiveness, or investigates symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or dark urine.
What a Liver Ultrasound Reveals
A liver ultrasound provides valuable information about the liver’s physical characteristics and can help identify various conditions affecting it. The scan allows medical professionals to assess the liver’s size, shape, and internal texture, which are important indicators of its health.
Changes in liver texture can reveal underlying issues. For instance, a liver that appears brighter than normal (echogenic or hyperechoic) on an ultrasound often suggests fatty liver disease, also known as steatosis. Conversely, a coarse or heterogeneous texture, sometimes accompanied by an irregular or nodular surface and shrunken size, can indicate advanced scarring, known as cirrhosis. Inflammation, or hepatitis, may also alter the liver’s appearance.
The ultrasound can also detect focal lesions, including fluid-filled cysts or hemangiomas. Solid masses can also be identified, although further investigations may be necessary to determine if they are benign or malignant.
Assessment of the liver’s vascular structures is an important aspect of the scan. Doppler ultrasound visualizes blood flow within the liver’s vessels. This helps identify conditions like portal hypertension, characterized by increased pressure in the portal vein.
While primarily focused on the liver, the ultrasound typically provides views of adjacent organs like the gallbladder and bile ducts. This allows for the detection of gallstones, gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), or blockages and dilation of the bile ducts, which can cause jaundice. Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites) is also visible and often indicates advanced liver disease.
Undergoing a Liver Ultrasound
Preparing for a liver ultrasound typically involves fasting for a few hours before the appointment. This fasting helps to clear the digestive system of food and gas, which can interfere with sound waves and obscure views of the liver and gallbladder. Patients are generally advised to wear loose-fitting clothing.
During the procedure, the patient lies on an examination table. A sonographer applies a clear, warmed gel to the abdomen. This gel ensures good contact between the skin and the transducer, which the sonographer moves across the abdominal surface to capture images. The scan is generally painless and usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. After the images are captured, a radiologist interprets them and sends a report to the referring doctor.