[Differential diagnostic problems of subtotal hepatic steatosis in the sonogram]

The authors describe the appearance of focal sparing in otherwise diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver found in 35 patients. These are pseudotumours which are less echogenic than the surrounding abnormal parenchyma. They are sharply marginated, of triangular shape and show no mass effect--neither by displacement of vessels nor by deformity of the contour of the liver. These characteristic morphologic features allowed a differentiation from neoplasms or abscesses in 80% of our cases. Hence, biopsies are rarely indicated in these patients.