Efficacy of Ultrasound for the Detection of Possible Fatty Liver Disease in Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Hepatology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly NAFLD, is rising with the obesity epidemic.
• Early detection of pediatric MASLD is crucial to prevent adult liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
• Liver biopsy is the gold standard, but non-invasive imaging methods are gaining importance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of screening methods for pediatric MASLD.
• To assess the utility of abdominal ultrasound in identifying MASLD indicators in children.
• To correlate ultrasound findings with clinical presentation in a pediatric gastroenterology setting.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 202 children presenting with abdominal pain, elevated liver enzymes, or MASLD.
• 134 patients underwent laboratory testing and abdominal ultrasound.
• Ultrasound images were reviewed by a pediatric radiologist for liver size and echotexture.

Main Results:

• 76.2% of initial radiology reports correctly identified hepatomegaly based on age.
• 75.4% of reports accurately described hepatic echogenicity consistent with increased fat deposition.
• Screening ultrasound showed potential in identifying children at risk for MASLD.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal ultrasound, when used with clinical evaluations, can help identify children at risk for MASLD.
• Using age-specific liver span ranges aids in diagnosing hepatomegaly.
• Recognizing hepatic echogenicity is key for identifying potential hepatic steatosis in pediatric patients.