Characteristic sonographic signs of hepatic fatty infiltration

Hepatic fatty infiltration sonographically appears as an area of increased echogenicity. When focal areas of fat are present in otherwise normal liver parenchyma, the fatty area may be masslike in appearance, leading to further imaging evaluation and sometimes even biopsy. This article discusses seven patients with focal fatty infiltration, who had sonographic signs that were highly suggestive of the fatty nature of the masses. These signs included angulated, geometric margins between normal and fatty tissue and interdigitating margins with slender fingers of normal or fatty tissue. These signs may be useful in diagnosing masslike areas of focal fatty infiltration and distinguishing these sonographically from other hepatic mass lesions.