Sonographic assessment of fatty liver infiltration using the measurement of para- and perirenal fat thickness.

PURPOSE: Usefulness of abdominal ultrasonography for quantitative estimation of fatty liver by measurement of para- and perirenal sonographic fat thickness (UFT) was investigated.

METHODS: Study subjects were 286 patients hospitalized for the treatment of diabetes. These subjects underwent blood chemistry studies, abdominal ultrasonography, and CT. On sonography, the thickness of combined para- and perirenal fat was measured between the kidney and the inner aspect of the abdominal musculature. Measurements on both sides were averaged as the UFT. Fatty liver infiltration was graded on a scale of grade 0 to 3: 0, none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe. With abdominal CT, the ratio of CT attenuation value of the liver to that of the spleen (L/S ratio) was measured.

RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between UFT and FL grade or between UFT and L/S ratio (p < 0.0001). Positive correlations were also found between UFT and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (p < 0.05), or cholinesterase (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Measurement of UFT is a useful method for the quantification of fatty liver as well as for the quantification of visceral fat.