Laparoscopic findings of fatty liver using multiple regression analysis. "Spotty" and "diffuse" yellow color

Laparoscopic features of fatty liver including the cases with fibrotic change were studied by multiple regression analysis. The coloration of the liver surface under laparoscopy was classified into three types: "spotty" yellow color (YC) type, "diffuse" YC type, and without YC type. The presence of YC on the liver surface depended on the amount of deposited lipid (standardized estimate = 0.606, p = 0.0001). However, the presence of YC and whether it appeared "spotty" or "diffuse" was independent of the intralobular distribution and size of the deposited lipid droplets. When YC was observed in cases without fibrotic change, 19 of the 23 with more than 30% lipid droplets in the biopsy specimens had "spotty" YC. When YC was found in cases with fibrotic change, all of the 14 cases with more than 30% lipid droplets were "diffuse" YC. A linear regression model showed that the yellow colored liver with fibrotic change had a "diffuse" appearance (yes = 1, no = 0) standardized estimate = 0.569, p = 0.0009). These data suggested that the amount of lipid deposited was responsible for the presence of YC on the liver surface both with and without fibrotic change, and that the co-existence of fibrotic change was a major factor for giving the yellow colored liver a "diffuse" appearance.