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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does "mild Diffuse Fatty Infiltration Of The Liver" Mean?

I had a blood clot in my leg a year and a half ago and this resulted in pulmonary emboli as shown by a CT with contrast The CT also showed a nodule in my right lung. I was placed on Cumadin. I had a second CT a year ago and the only notation was a small nodule in the right posterior costophrenic sulcus of the right lung which did not appear to contain fat or calcifications and this finding did not change over the year. I recently had a 3rd CT with contrast which showed mild diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver. Visualized portions of the spleen and gallbladder were unremarkable, however there is a 2.2 cm cyst withing the posterior upper pole cortex of the left kidney. It has internal Hounsfield units consistent with water. There is no evidence of ascites seen and the remainder of the upper abdominal structures are unremarkable.

What can you tell me about the mild diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver and the 2.2 cm cyst on the left kidney?

Thanks
Mon, 4 Aug 2014
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Gastroenterologist, Surgical,  's  Response
Fatty liver can be caused by excessive alcohol intake (Alcoholic steato hepatitis, ASH) or due to excessive fatty food intake and sedentary life style (Non-alcoholic steato hepatitis, NASH). ASH is usually the beginning stages of alcohol induced liver damage and is completely reversible if the patient refrains from alcohol. NASH is being much more commonly diagnosed currently owing to poor dietary habits and sedentary life styles of people. High caloric intake, high fatty food intake and poor exercise regimens lead to deposition of fat goblets in the liver tissue leading to fatty liver (which shows up as increased echo texture on USG). This is also completely reversible in the initial stages if caloric intake is limited and exercise regimens are adhered to. If left un-checked, patients usually become obese, diabetic and in final stages may lead to cirrhosis of the liver which will necessitate a liver transplant.

I would suggest a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Although there is no time limit on when to get a repeat scan, I would suggest one, once you have succeeded in losing some weight.

Cysts in the kidney are very common finding on scans of the abdomen. As long as it is not enAlrging in size or causing any symptoms, it is a totally normal finding. I would not worry about it.

Hope this helped and please do not hesitate to contact me for further details - rxsuresh@gmail.com
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What Does "mild Diffuse Fatty Infiltration Of The Liver" Mean?

Fatty liver can be caused by excessive alcohol intake (Alcoholic steato hepatitis, ASH) or due to excessive fatty food intake and sedentary life style (Non-alcoholic steato hepatitis, NASH). ASH is usually the beginning stages of alcohol induced liver damage and is completely reversible if the patient refrains from alcohol. NASH is being much more commonly diagnosed currently owing to poor dietary habits and sedentary life styles of people. High caloric intake, high fatty food intake and poor exercise regimens lead to deposition of fat goblets in the liver tissue leading to fatty liver (which shows up as increased echo texture on USG). This is also completely reversible in the initial stages if caloric intake is limited and exercise regimens are adhered to. If left un-checked, patients usually become obese, diabetic and in final stages may lead to cirrhosis of the liver which will necessitate a liver transplant. I would suggest a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Although there is no time limit on when to get a repeat scan, I would suggest one, once you have succeeded in losing some weight. Cysts in the kidney are very common finding on scans of the abdomen. As long as it is not enAlrging in size or causing any symptoms, it is a totally normal finding. I would not worry about it. Hope this helped and please do not hesitate to contact me for further details - rxsuresh@gmail.com