Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration of a liver biopsy Liver biopsy

Tests 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).
Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment
References
  1. Feldstein AE, et al. Fatty liver disease. The American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/fld.asp. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  2. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/nafld/. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  3. Reid AE. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&about=true&uniqId=229935664-2192. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  4. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/index.htm. Accessed Dec. 10, 2010.
  5. Musso G, et al. A meta-analysis of randomized trials for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2010;52:79.
DS00577 Feb. 19, 2011

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