clinical features of fatty liver
Last reviewed 09/2021
Patients are usually asymptomatic and there may be no hepatomegaly.
- occasionally a patient may have an enlarged, smooth, firm liver and an further investigation confirms the diagnosis of fatty liver
- often diagnosis is suggested by
- an ultrasound report e.g. diffusely echogenic organ suggestive of fatty liver, when the patient was having an abdominal ultrasound relating to investigation of another clinical problem
- abnormal liver function tests, measured as part of routine testing (e.g. - health checks)
Other clinical features occur infrequently:
- nausea and vomiting with periumbilical, epigastric or right upper quadrant pain may occur in the alcoholic fatty liver
- pulmonary fat emboli in acute fatty liver may cause death
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