What are the reasons for a liver scan? A liver scan may be done to check for diseases such as liver cancer , hepatitis , or cirrhosis . Lesions such as tumors, abscesses, or cysts of the liver or spleen may be seen on a liver scan.
An ultrasound, CT scan and MRI can show liver damage. Checking a tissue sample. Removing a tissue sample (biopsy) from your liver may help diagnose liver disease and look for signs of liver damage.
Doctors usually recommend liver ultrasounds for the following reasons: if you show symptoms of liver disease, such as jaundice or pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen (where the liver is located) if you have high liver enzymes on a blood test called the liver function test.
Liver scans typically have very low associated risks. The radiation level in liver scans is not enough to cause harm. It is less than the amount used in most other types of nuclear medicine. Some people may experience slight discomfort with the injection of the radioactive tracer.
You usually get your results within 1 or 2 weeks. Contact the doctor who arranged the test if you haven't heard anything after a couple of weeks.
Ultrasound is often the first test used to look at the liver. It uses sound waves to create an image on a computer screen. This test can show tumors growing in the liver, which then can be tested for cancer, if needed.
A liver ultrasound gives crucial information about any abnormalities of your liver. Doctors examine the density, masses, the brightness of the liver ultrasound scan to detect cysts, hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, etc. In an ultrasound scan, it's easy to distinguish cysts from solid masses.
At the start of the exam, a hypoallergenic, odor-free, warm gel will be gently lathered onto the abdomen. The sonographer who will be performing the examination will move a transducer around the abdomen and rib cage area. The transducer will take pictures of your liver and surrounding organs, producing the ultrasound.
An ultrasound may indicate scarring on the liver. The early stage of scarring is called fibrosis. A more advanced stage is called cirrhosis. Scarring can be caused by fatty liver disease, excessive alcohol consumption, or hepatitis.
Blood tests
A low level of serum albumin suggests your liver is not functioning properly. A blood test may also look for signs of abnormal blood clotting, which can indicate significant liver damage.
Acute liver failure can develop quickly in an otherwise healthy person, and it is life-threatening. If you or someone you know suddenly develops a yellowing of the eyes or skin; tenderness in the upper abdomen; or any unusual changes in mental state, personality or behavior, seek medical attention right away.
Both ultrasound and MR elastography can detect increased stiffness of the liver caused by liver fibrosis earlier than other imaging tests and may eliminate the need for an invasive liver biopsy.
Stage 1: Inflammation
In the early stages of liver disease, the liver will become swollen or inflamed as the body's natural response to injury. Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, can also occur when there are more toxins in the blood than the liver is able to manage. The earlier the diagnosis, the better.
When symptoms do occur, they may first include fatigue, weakness and weight loss, nausea, bruising or bleeding easily, swelling in your legs, feet or ankles, itchy skin, redness on the palms of your hands, and spider-like blood vessels on your skin.
Signs and symptoms
However, as your liver loses its ability to function properly, you're likely to experience a loss of appetite, nausea and itchy skin. In the later stages, symptoms can include jaundice, vomiting blood, dark, tarry-looking stools, and a build-up of fluid in the legs (oedema) and abdomen (ascites).
You may not eat or drink anything for 8 to 10 hours before the test. If you eat, the gallbladder and ducts will empty to help digest food and will not be easily seen during the test. If your test is scheduled in the morning, we suggest that you eat nothing after midnight the night before the test is scheduled.
Elevated liver enzymes often indicate inflammation or damage to cells in the liver. Inflamed or injured liver cells leak higher than normal amounts of certain chemicals, including liver enzymes, into the bloodstream, elevating liver enzymes on blood tests.
If the vein flow is red, that means the blood is going into and through your liver in the southward bound direction.
Because sound waves echo differently from fluid-filled cysts and solid masses, an ultrasound can reveal tumors that may be cancerous. However, further testing will be necessary before a cancer diagnosis can be confirmed.
feeling or being sick. pain at the top right side of your tummy or in your right shoulder. symptoms of indigestion, such as feeling full very quickly when eating. a very swollen tummy that is not related to when you eat.
Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs. General abdominal pain and discomfort can also be related to swelling from fluid retention and enlargement of your spleen and liver caused by cirrhosis.
Preparing for an ultrasound scan
avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the scan – this may be needed before a scan of your digestive system, including the liver and gallbladder.