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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffTests and procedures used to diagnose nonalcoholic fatty liver disease include:
- Blood tests. Liver function tests, including tests of liver enzymes, may help your doctor make a diagnosis.
- Imaging procedures. Imaging procedures used to diagnose fatty liver disease include ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Liver tissue testing. If it's suspected that you have a more serious form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of tissue from your liver (liver biopsy). The tissue sample is examined in a laboratory to look for signs of inflammation and scarring. Liver biopsy is typically done using a long needle inserted through your skin and into your liver to remove liver cells (needle biopsy).
References
- Feldstein AE, et al. Fatty liver disease. The American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/fld.asp. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
- Fatty liver. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/fattyliver/. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
- Reid AE. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115719609-2/0/1389/588.html?tocnode=51641781&fromURL=588.html#4-u1.0-B1-4160-0245-6..50087-1_3674. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/index.htm. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
- Preiss D, et al. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: An overview of prevalence, diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment considerations. Clinical Science. 2008;115:141.
- Torres DM, et al. Diagnosis and therapy of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2008;134:1682.
- Sheth SG, et al. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
- Moschen AR, et al. Nutrition in the pathophysiology and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2008;11:620.
