Ultrasound of the liver: interpretation of the results

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

We are all periodically examined. And ultrasound of the liver is one of the mandatory procedures. This gland, weighing one and a half kilograms, is responsible for blood coagulation factors, secretes some proteins, and destroys toxins.

What's more, this organ has amazing self-healing abilities. Over time, a full-fledged organ can grow from a small piece. With regard to ultrasound, patients often need to understand the indicators themselves and understand what is happening in their body.

Therefore, it is important to know what the decoding shows with an ultrasound of the liver, what is the norm of the state of the gland, what is ultrasound.

Ultrasound: the essence of the method

First of all, it is worth understanding what an ultrasound is. This research method is based on ultrasound, that is, on specific sound waves that can be captured by a special apparatus.

The essence of the procedure is as follows: thanks to a special apparatus, sound waves reflected from the internal organs are captured.

And thanks to their reflection, a two-dimensional reflection of the organ can be built. Moreover, thanks to these echo signals, it is possible to fix the size and position of the organ, the state of the vessels and walls. Thanks to ultrasound examination, even the presence of neoplasms can be determined.

Since the subject of our today's research is an ultrasound examination of the largest gland in the human body, it is important to understand in which cases it is prescribed:

• For chronic pain under the right rib. Especially if they get worse after eating fatty, spicy or salty foods;
• If the skin takes on a yellowish or orange tint;
• With injuries of the abdominal cavity. In this case, not only the liver is checked, but also all the organs that are located in the abdominal cavity.

In addition, such a survey should be done at least once a year. So you can "catch" the disease in the early stages and quickly cure it.

Ultrasound of the liver: preparation for the procedure

Preparing for an ultrasound examination is important. Remember that no matter how far technological progress in medicine has gone, there are still factors that can distort the picture. Therefore, you need to prepare carefully for an ultrasound examination.

The essence of preparation in this case is to reduce the amount of gas in the intestines. Thus, the liver will not be obscured by swollen intestinal rings and the examination result will be as close as possible to the real state of affairs.

And the first thing you need to do before an ultrasound scan is to stop eating all foods that cause increased gas formation. These products include all types of legumes, cabbage, onions, mushrooms, grapes. Dairy products, including ice cream, should be completely excluded from the diet. Attention! It is also not recommended to drink soda or store juices. Remember that they contain a huge amount of harmful substances that can irritate the walls of the stomach.

Do not be afraid, such a restriction in food should not be too long. It is enough to sit on such a diet for only three days before the procedure.

And a few more tips regarding nutrition while preparing for an ultrasound:

• Eat small meals. The number of meals per day should not be less than four;
• The last meal should be two to three hours before you go to bed;
• It is advisable to reduce the amount of water consumed. The rate of fluid consumption in this case is only one and a half liters per day.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that you need to do an ultrasound either in the morning on an empty stomach, or do not eat before the procedure for eight hours. And only in this case the survey results will fully correspond to reality. Of course, if the case is serious and an immediate examination is necessary, then there is no question of any preparation.

But in such cases, all results are rechecked several times. And other examinations, for example, a blood test, complement the picture. So do not think that everything ends with the decoding of the results of an ultrasound examination.

Ultrasound of the liver: decoding, norm, size

It is also important to understand what are the key indicators and whether the survey results fit into the norm. Deciphering the deviations is also important.

On an ultrasound examination of the liver, the following parameters are examined:

• sizes;
• the cloth;
• contours;

Also, during the study, the gallbladder is also necessarily studied. This is due to the fact that these two organs are connected anatomically and functionally.

Therefore, decoding the indicators of the gallbladder is also important. Now let's take a closer look at what is the norm for each of the indicators we have listed.

Liver size

In this case, the left and right parts of the organ are measured separately. The norm for the size of the left side is from six to eight centimeters. The norm of the right is from ten to twelve and a half centimeters. Attention! If the parameters of your organ are different, then do not panic ahead of time. Remember that such an examination should take into account the person's physique.

As for the pathological increase in the size of the organ, this may indicate an inflammatory process or an early stage of cirrhosis. Also, an increase is observed with stagnation. As for changes in the size of only one part, this may be a consequence of the formation of a tumor. But to confirm this or that diagnosis, it is not enough just an ultrasound examination. In any case, you will still need to pass certain tests.

Liver tissue

The norm is considered if it is homogeneous and echogenic. A change in echogenicity (that is, the reflection of sound waves from an organ) can be a sign of pathology. Also, there may be small inclusions in the tissue - cysts.

Please note that in the description obtained after the ultrasound of the liver, such inclusions are characterized not as tumors, but as "formations". Remember that you cannot make a diagnosis using only one ultrasound scan. In any case, the pathology must be confirmed with additional tests.

Liver contours

Normally, the contours of the liver should be even. The edges are sharp. But the appearance of tuberosity may indicate an oncological disease, cirrhosis or other equally serious pathological processes.

It is worth paying attention to the reasons for the rounding of the edges. This may be a consequence of stagnant processes in the liver. Attention! One of the reasons for the occurrence of stagnant processes may be heart failure, as a result of which the systemic circulation is disturbed.

Gall bladder

The normal longitudinal size is five to seven centimeters. As for the thickness of the walls, they should be approximately two to three millimeters. An increase in the gallbladder may indicate a violation of the mechanism of bile outflow. If the gallbladder is not just enlarged, but also swollen, then this may indicate the absence of outflow of bile, as a result of which the organ is gradually filled with bile and mucus.

It is worth noting the fact that a kind of sediment can occur in the gallbladder.

And if you don't get rid of it, then over time it can turn into stones.

As you can see, decoding the results of an ultrasound of the liver is not so difficult. But you should not use this knowledge in order to diagnose yourself and start self-medication. In addition to an ultrasound of the liver, you will still need to pass several tests in order to finally make a diagnosis. And only a doctor should make a diagnosis.

Remember that every symptom that is detected on an ultrasound of the liver can be caused by a number of reasons. And without additional examination, it is impossible to diagnose and begin adequate treatment.

Therefore, of course, you can carefully study the results of an ultrasound scan, but let the doctor make a diagnosis. Good luck and don't get sick!