Hepatic steatosis, or fatty liver, is a common abdominal condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation within liver cells. Often asymptomatic, it can progress to more severe liver diseases like steatohepatitis or cirrhosis if unmanaged.
In medical ultrasound, hepatic steatosis presents as an increased echogenicity (brightness) of the liver parenchyma, often with reduced penetration of the ultrasound beam. Accurate ultrasound assessment is crucial for diagnosis, monitoring, and differentiation from other liver pathologies in abdominal imaging.
