Liver Ultrasound in Colorado
Our experienced radiologists at The Women’s Imaging Center use liver ultrasound to evaluate the size, shape, and structure of the liver, helping identify abnormalities and providing valuable information about your liver health.
Understanding Your Liver Health With Ultrasound
The liver is one of the body's largest internal organs and performs several essential functions. It processes nutrients, produces bile to help digest fats, makes important proteins, and helps remove waste products and other substances from the blood. Changes in the liver can affect many different systems throughout the body, making early evaluation of potential problems important.
A liver ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging examination that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the liver. A handheld device called a transducer sends sound waves through the body and receives the echoes reflected by internal tissues. These echoes are converted into images that a radiologist interprets.
Your physician may order a liver ultrasound if you have abnormal liver blood tests, unexplained upper abdominal discomfort, or a suspected liver abnormality. Ultrasound allows radiologists to assess the liver's appearance without using X-rays or other ionizing radiation.
What Can a Liver Ultrasound Detect?
Liver ultrasound helps radiologists evaluate changes in the liver's size, texture, and internal structures. The examination may identify findings associated with:
Fatty liver disease (hepatic steatosis)
Liver cysts
Liver hemangiomas
Liver enlargement (hepatomegaly)
Certain benign or malignant liver masses
Structural changes associated with cirrhosis
Bile duct dilation
Fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites)
One common finding is fatty liver disease, a condition in which excess fat accumulates within liver cells. Fatty changes can make the liver appear brighter than normal on ultrasound. However, ultrasound alone cannot reliably determine the amount of fat present, establish the degree of liver inflammation, or determine the stage of fibrosis.
Ultrasound may also identify liver cysts, which are fluid-filled structures that are often benign (noncancerous). Another common benign finding is a hemangioma, a collection of blood vessels within the liver.
If an ultrasound identifies a liver lesion that cannot be fully characterized, your physician may recommend additional imaging, such as a specialized MRI or CT examination.
Why Might Your Doctor Recommend a Liver Ultrasound?
Many liver conditions do not cause noticeable symptoms in their early stages. Your physician may recommend liver ultrasound after routine blood work reveals elevated liver enzymes or when an examination suggests liver enlargement.
Other reasons include persistent discomfort in the upper right abdomen, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or monitoring an already diagnosed liver condition.
Ultrasound may also be used in the evaluation of chronic liver disease. Advanced liver scarring, known as cirrhosis, can change the liver's surface and appearance. However, early fibrosis may not be visible on a routine ultrasound. Additional tests, such as elastography, may be needed to assess liver stiffness.
What to Expect During a Liver Ultrasound
A liver ultrasound is generally a comfortable examination that does not require needles, injections, or anesthesia.
Depending on the examination ordered, you may be asked to avoid eating for several hours before your appointment. Fasting can improve visualization of upper abdominal structures, particularly when the gallbladder and bile ducts are also being evaluated.
Follow the preparation instructions provided for your specific examination. Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the upper abdomen.
You will lie on an examination table while the technologist applies a clear, water-based gel to your upper abdomen. The gel helps sound waves travel between the transducer and your skin.
The technologist will gently move the transducer across your abdomen, obtaining images of the liver from several directions. You may be asked to change positions or briefly hold your breath to improve the images.
You may feel gentle pressure from the transducer, particularly if the area being examined is tender.
Once the examination is complete, the gel will be removed, and you can generally return to your normal activities immediately.
A radiologist will interpret the images and prepare a report for your referring physician. Depending on the findings, your physician may recommend follow-up imaging, laboratory tests, or further evaluation.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Liver Ultrasound
Your doctor may order a liver ultrasound to investigate abnormal liver blood tests, upper abdominal pain, suspected liver enlargement, or a previously identified liver abnormality. It can also be used to monitor certain known liver conditions.
Ultrasound can identify changes suggestive of fatty liver disease, particularly when a substantial amount of fat is present. Mild fatty changes may not be visible, and additional testing may be needed to measure liver fat or assess for fibrosis.
Liver ultrasound can identify some suspicious masses, but it cannot reliably determine whether every lesion is benign or malignant. Small lesions may be missed, and additional imaging or other testing may be necessary. A normal ultrasound does not exclude all liver cancers.
A liver ultrasound focuses on the liver and may include nearby structures when clinically indicated. A complete abdominal ultrasound evaluates several abdominal organs, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys. Your physician will order the examination appropriate for your symptoms or medical history.
Liver ultrasound is noninvasive and usually painless. You may feel mild pressure when the technologist moves the transducer over your abdomen, especially if you already have discomfort in that area.
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