EVALUATING THE ROLE OF ULTRASOUND FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF D-I-KHAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22933407Keywords:
Acute myocardial infarction, mechanical complications, ventricular septal rupture, papillary muscle rupture, free wall rupture, gender differences, Pakistan, tertiary careAbstract
Background: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is one of the most common chronic liver disorders worldwide and is increasingly detected among asymptomatic individuals. Early diagnosis is important to prevent disease progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Ultrasound is widely used as a non-invasive, safe, and cost-effective imaging modality for the detection of fatty liver disease. Objective: To evaluate the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of fatty liver disease among asymptomatic adult patients (18–65 years) attending tertiary care hospitals of Dera Ismail Khan.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiology Department of DHQ Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan. A total of 102 asymptomatic adult patients aged 18–65 years were included using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured performa and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Ultrasound examination was performed to identify and grade fatty liver disease. Results: Among the 102 participants, 61 (59.8%) were diagnosed with fatty liver disease, while 41 (40.2%) had normal liver findings. Grade 1 (mild) fatty liver was the most common finding and was observed in 51 (50.0%) participants. Grade 2 (moderate) fatty liver was detected in 7 (6.9%) participants, whereas Grade 3 (severe) fatty liver was identified in 3 (2.9%) participants. The prevalence and severity of fatty liver disease increased with age. Male participants constituted 54.9% of the study population, while females accounted for 45.1%. Conclusion: Ultrasound proved to be an effective, non-invasive, safe, and economical imaging modality for the detection and grading of fatty liver disease in asymptomatic adults. The findings support the use of ultrasound as a first-line screening tool for early diagnosis and management of fatty liver disease.
Keywords: Ultrasound, Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatic Steatosis, Asymptomatic Adults, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Liver Ultrasound, Dera Ismail Khan.
