A study of the liver is called hepatology. This specialized field falls under gastroenterology, which encompasses the study of the entire digestive system. Various tests and examinations can be conducted as part of a liver study.
Types of Liver Studies and Examinations
Several different approaches exist for studying the liver, depending on the suspected issue:
- Liver Function Tests (LFTs): Also called a liver panel, these blood tests measure substances produced by the liver to assess its function. MedlinePlus provides detailed information on these tests.
- Imaging Techniques: These visualize the liver to detect abnormalities. Examples include ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI.
- Liver Biopsy: A small sample of liver tissue is removed for microscopic examination to diagnose conditions like cirrhosis or fatty liver disease.
- Specialized Studies: Depending on the suspected problem, additional tests might focus on specific liver conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now more accurately termed metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), or alcoholic liver disease. Mayo Clinic and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) offer details on these conditions.
The information gathered from these studies helps diagnose liver diseases, such as cirrhosis (Johns Hopkins Medicine), NAFLD/MASLD (Mayo Clinic, Liver Foundation, National Institutes of Health), and other conditions leading to liver failure (Cleveland Clinic).
