Test and findings.

[Realy]

how many have had ultrasounds and the reports came back Heterogeneous, Hypoechoic. Hyperechoic, coarse echotexture, increased echogenicity . And what came of those findings after further testing results? Did they result in fibrosis, steatosis, cirrhosis, or any other result.

[deanw41]

Yup! Depends on who reads them, the terminology they use, how much experience they have. US are not accurate and are highly subjective. I go from mildly fatty liver to cirrhotic liver. Course pancreas to unremarkably pancreas. They are cheap and cheerful in my opinion. That’s why I pay to have private scans.

[deanw41]

You go from being a hyposensitive echo chamber with a slightly increase duplex decrease one day, to a left lobe to a hippo hyper echo reflex right lobe increase the next.

No Significant Change

[deanw41]

I’m loving the advice regarding contacting your own Dr with regards to your health concerns. Err how?

[deanw41]

Sometimes it could be a midwife, another time a contract cleaner.

[Realy]

I’m wondering if any of the results that say coarse echotexture are just fatty liver or more serious abnormalities. And how many have had that turn out to be the case from further testing . Ultrasound is a good starting point but as you say if you get a really good experienced tech that’s can get a good look at that liver they may even know more than the radiologist.

[Greengal314]

I went from echotexture coarse, slightly heterogeneous & echogenicity min increased to echotexture coarse with echoegenicity heterogeneous mildly increased. I guess it’s the same. But my spleen is smaller with no ascites. They both say nodular contour

I am looking hopefully to a day where it says homogeneous. I guess it can’t be slightly or mildly homogeneous. That contradicts the meaning of the word. Lol

It’s either 1) heterogeneous, 2) slightly/mildly heterogenous, or 3) homogeneous.

Coarse, Slightly heterogenous and minimally increased echogenicity with nodular contour has given me a cirrhosis result. I don’t have portal hypertension, splenomagly or ascites so I am hoping the fibrosis contributing to the cirrhosis diagnosis can be lessened to a more favorable category (aka, not cirrhosis lol).

I think it can be done since my bloodflow is normal. Also my alpha fetoprotein is 3.1. So I am happy about that too (so my cancer risk is relatively low).

From what I have read, the alpha fetoprotein level has shown to match up to the level of fibrosis or inflammation, and I’m glad to say that mine is normal. So I’m still in a quandary. 😆

Have you had that blood test?

I would think that the radiologist is more knowledgeable than the tech, but they rely on the information provided by the tech. So that can limit their capacity to evaluate it. Also, since their evaluation is subjective in nature it makes it more difficult I would think in making a reverse judgement- especially due to liability. How do you determine the difference from slightly heterogeneous, to really really slightly heterogeneous, to homogeneous? Homogenous is homogeneous. Uniform throughout.

[Realy in reply to Greengal314]

So a Homogeneous parenchyma is the best report you could get out of all the findings.

[Greengal314 in reply to Realy]

Homogeneous is normal. Yes I don’t think you could have a nodular contour with a homogeneous parenchyma.

I’m not sure if you can have just fatty liver disease if you have homogeneous parenchyma.

[Realy in reply to Greengal314]

Yeah I would assume that’s the best wording of a report you could get as there are many diffrent descriptions in ultrasound findings.

[Greengal314]

Hopefully, sometime in the near future I will get a more favorable description and result. If I do, I’ll be delighted to share it. 😄. As of now I’m kinda mildly heterogeneous and slightly increased.

I guess I just should be thankful for the big improvement I’ve had already

I am thankful.

[Realy in reply to Greengal314]

Do you have fatty liver, fibrosis

[Greengal314 in reply to Realy]

Mild cirrhosis. I’m not sure if it can be changed to just fibrosis, and what would make that change.? The contour?

I guess regardless the treatment plan is the same. I don’t know 🤷‍♀️

[Realy in reply to Greengal314]

I’m not sure I was asking if your diagnosis was fibrosis, but I guess the fibrosis is what causes the architectural changes and appearances

[Greengal314 in reply to Realy]

Yeah exactly. I guess judging or evaluating something from a visual standpoint allows only a very limited number of choices - as opposed to a fibrosis score.

[Realy in reply to Greengal314]

I would think the more serious the Fibrosis the outline or edges and contour would change and be seen