The Imaging Manifestations of Liver Cirrhosis
摘要
Liver cirrhosis is a chronic, progressive, and diffuse liver disease, which is characterized by diffuse fibrosis of liver tissue, formation of pseudolobules, and regenerative nodules. Due to these pathological changes, on the imaging the liver volume will be reduced, the edges will be uneven, and liver parenchyma will show diffuse nodular changes, which are direct signs of liver cirrhosis. Among them, liver cirrhosis nodules can show different densities on CT due to the different components. Changes in the size and shape or outline of the liver are the most characteristic and have the greatest diagnostic significance. The main manifestations of ultrasonograms of liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis are abnormal liver proportion, unsmooth liver capsule, and obviously thickened and heterogeneously distributed echoes in the liver, with sonographic changes such as splenomegaly and portal hypertension, etc. MRI is more sensitive than CT and ultrasound examination in displaying liver cirrhosis nodules. The “gold standard” for the diagnosis is ultrasound-guided liver biopsy pathology, and the diagnosis can be definitely made if hepatocyte necrosis, destruction of the structure of hepatic lobules, and formation of fibrous septa and nodules are seen under the microscope. 30~50% of liver cirrhosis is complicated by liver cancer. Liver cancer can occur in any part of the liver, but mostly in the right lobe, and is closely related to liver lobe atrophy in liver cirrhosis.