Dissolution of Fatty Liver

[woody0257]

I was diagnosed with fatty liver back in 08.  I never had elevated enzymes, I had a CT scan w/o contrast which came back with fatty liver, no enlargement or inflammation.  I recently had a CT scan with contrast which showed the fatty liver was resolved.  If it progressed to fibrosis or cirrhosis during that time would it show on the scan?  Thanks. P.S. I do not have hepatitis but couldnt find a better category.

[stef2011]

you should check with biopsy, i have both some fatty liver and regressing cirrhosis but the best way to determine fatty liver grade is biopsy not scans and the best way to monitor fibrosis is fibroscan every 3-6months.so it is better to make a biopsy to see where you are and then follow up by fibroscan checks

cirrohsis doesn t show up in blood tests or ultrasound/ct scan,  when it doesit is end stage or very advanced stage (nodules is very advanced cirrhosis), i never had abnormal tests except alt/ast but due to hbv when not on treatment

alchool is like poison for liver which is not perfectly healthy you should give up complitely until a biopsy shows no damage

[woody0257]

Its just that I still have physical symptoms of liver disease such as upper right quadrant pain, muscle spasms, itchy eyes and dry mouth.  I gave up alcohol for 2 months, drastically changed my diet and exercised daily.  The symptoms started to disperse then I had one night of drinking wine and the pain and symptoms came back.  Again the symptoms are slowly starting to disperse but I'm scared that if it was only fatty liver and it had resolved, I would not have these symptoms. Would it be possible my liver is just sensitive and still needs time to heal? Doctors (primary and gastro) won't do a biopsy and tell me I'm fine. I'm very scared anxious and frustrated I can't get a definite diagnosis. I am only 30 and had 3 years of heavy drinking with about 2 of them coming on the fatty liver. Thank both of you for your responses and please let me know what you think.

[copyman]

that is great news. did you change your diet, etc?  The CT scan is the best way to diagnose fatty liver so if it was unremarkable then you are good to go.

[Bill1954]

Hi Woody,

I’m not overly familiar with fatty liver; however, I don’t believe CT scan is the most effective way of gauging progression of liver disease. In regards to Hep C, we often get a needle biopsy to judge how much fibrosis has developed over the course of our disease.

I believe a CT scan would probably detect frank cirrhosis if it was present; I think it can detect regenerative nodularity, organ dimensions, etc. For peace of mind, if it HAD somehow progressed into cirrhosis, this should also be apparent from routine bloodwork; in that situation, platelets are usually markedly reduced, INR and serum albumin change, etc.

I think that normally, as long as decompensated cirrhosis isn’t present, if the root cause of the problem is removed (as is your case, apparently), the liver would be expected to heal, or at minimum not progress further. What I can’t tell you is if CT scan is the proper tool to determine if fatty liver is no longer present.

Best to discuss this with the doc, and perhaps the radiologist. Good luck,

Bill