The liver is the most important metabolic organ in the body. This is where food is metabolized and stored, various building materials for the body are synthesized and excreted via waste products. Bile is transported via the bile ducts to the gallbladder for storage, which plays an important role in the absorption of fats from the intestine.
Due to its active metabolism, the liver is susceptible to pathological changes in its tissue (liver parenchyma), e.g. fatty degeneration caused by excessive calorie intake, or inflammation, which can be triggered by alcohol, medication and viruses, for example. Chronic damage can lead to scarring – liver cirrhosis – with impaired liver function.
But the liver is also particularly susceptible to metastases, the colonization of cancer foci in the intestines, lungs and many other organs. This is due to the dual blood supply to the liver, which is supplied on the one hand via the hepatic artery and on the other via the portal vein, which carries nutrient-rich blood from the intestine to the liver, but also cancer cells.
Our recommendation
MRI is particularly useful for detecting liver diseases such as cirrhosis and tumors, as well as gallbladder inflammation and stones.
Ultrasound examination of the liver
While in many cases an ultrasound examination (US) is carried out first if liver and bile duct problems are suspected, a normal result in the US can be deceptive. Many liver parenchymal changes and also metastases can be overlooked in the US.
Our recommendation
Regular preventive care is important.
Adults up to the age of 40 should be screened every 4 years, and every 2 years after that.
Multiphase CT of the liver
Multiphase CT, a computer tomography that images the liver tissue during different phases of the contrast medium scan, is much more sensitive and specific than the US examination of the liver. Usually 3 or 4 phases are recorded: Native, without contrast medium; arterial phase, during the arterial flow of the contrast medium; portal venous phase, during the flow of the contrast medium via the portal vein; and possibly a late phase, up to 10 minutes after the contrast medium has been administered.
In particular, multiphase CT can better detect focal lesions such as tumors and distinguish between the different types of these masses. Since CT is associated with radiation exposure, it should be avoided in younger people in favor of an MRI of the liver.
Our recommendation
Regular preventive care is important.
Adults up to the age of 40 should be screened every 4 years, and every 2 years after that.
Multiphase CT of the liver
Multiphase CT, a computer tomography that images the liver tissue during different phases of the contrast medium scan, is much more sensitive and specific than the US examination of the liver. Usually 3 or 4 phases are recorded: Native, without contrast medium; arterial phase, during the arterial flow of the contrast medium; portal venous phase, during the flow of the contrast medium via the portal vein; and possibly a late phase, up to 10 minutes after the contrast medium has been administered.
In particular, multiphase CT can better detect focal lesions such as tumors and distinguish between the different types of these masses. Since CT is associated with radiation exposure, it should be avoided in younger people in favor of an MRI of the liver.
Our recommendation
Regular preventive care is important.
Adults up to the age of 40 should be screened every 4 years, and every 2 years after that.
MRI of the liver
The use of a number of specific contrast agents can further increase the accuracy of MRI with regard to the detection and differential diagnosis of various liver changes.
Our recommendation
Regular preventive care is important.
Adults up to the age of 40 should be screened every 4 years, and every 2 years after that.
