Questions about mild fatty infiltration - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

gorgikin · 07-26-2007, 01:08 PM

Hello everyone,
Long story short I went in for a CT scan with the contrast agent for hematuria in my urine & it noted mild infiltration of the liver. I am going in for a cystoscopy with my urologist in August & was going to discuss this with him, however, am wondering if there is a specialist I should see regarding this. I am 28, in my ideal weight range, drink occassionally, fairly active, & eat semi healthy. I am walking on foreign territory with this, and am kinda wondering what to expect if I were to go in. Is it something they typically want to biopsy right away? How is it monitored? Should I have a liver function test performed?

Any advice & or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

eric5555 · 07-26-2007, 01:19 PM

Your primary care physician can provide you with a liver function test. Actually you may already have it since these tests are often included in routine blood tests. This would let your doctor know generally how well your liver is functioning. If it's only mild fatty infiltration, I doubt that a biopsy would be necessary. Fatty liver is reversible with adjustments to diet and is not life threatening. Of course over many years if it gets worse it can develop into more serious conditions. Fatty liver is actually somewhat common, but most people have no idea they have it because it usually has no symptoms.

gorgikin · 07-26-2007, 06:03 PM

Thanks for the reply Eric. Do you or anyone know about diagnosis procedures? If the CT scan came back as mild fatty infiltration is it pretty safe to assume that is what it is? I read somewhere that biopsy is the only sure fire way of knowing. What usually happens to monitor it? Just routine liver function tests or is there periodic imaging included in there somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any replies. I am in the process of being diagnosed for hematuria & this popped up out of nowhere, and its the first time ever hearing of it...

eric5555 · 07-26-2007, 07:28 PM

Of course a biopsy would be more definite. Ultrasound should also pick this up as well. From my understanding a biopsy is usually used to confirm a diagnosis as well as to determine the severity. For example, if cirrhosis was suspected, a biopsy would be the only way to determine exactly how progressed it is. Since you seem to only have a mild fatty infiltration, a biopsy probably would not be needed. If your liver function test come back elevated, it could be a consideration.

Lenin · 07-27-2007, 07:02 AM

"Fatty liver" is VERY common and no cause for alarm. No biopsy needed.

This is one of the things that "didn't exist" before the advent of echograms, CAT scans and MRI's.

If your liver enzymes are aok and you've never had hepatitis there's little to worry about.