Liver Flashcards
What are the 4 functions of the liver?
- Metabolism
- Digestion
- Storage
- Detoxification
In patients with known liver disease, what type of test can help in the diagnosis?
Liver Function Test
What refers to a group of laboratory tests established to analyze how the liver is performing under normal and diseased conditions
Liver Function Tests
Name of the enzyme present in tissues with a high rate of metabolic activity?
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
What causes AST to be released into the bloodstream in abnormally high levels?
Death or injury to producing cells
Any disease that injures the cells causes an elevation in _____ levels
AST
In what 6 cases pertaining to the liver is AST elevated?
- Hepatitis
- Fatty liver
- Hepatic necrosis
- Mononucleosis
- Cirrhosis
- Metastatic liver disease
Alanine Aminotransferase is mildly elevated in what?
- Acute cirrhosis
- Hepatic metastasis
- Pancreatitis
Alanine Aminotransferase is mild to moderately elevated in cases of?
Obstructive Jaundice
Alanine Aminotransferase is moderate to highly elevated in what 3 cases?
- Hepatocellular disease
- infections hepatitis
- Toxic hepatitis
__________ is produced by the liver, bone, intestines and placenta
Alkaline Phosphatase
Alkaline Phosphatase is a good indicator of what 5 diseases?
- Obstruction
- Hepatic carcinoma
- Abscess
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
__________is secreted as bile by the liver cells into the bile ducts
Bilirubin
What is bilirubin?
Product of the breakdown of hemoglobin in tired red blood cells
The Bilirubin process can be disturbed in what 3 ways
- Excessive amount of red blood cell destruction
- Malfunction of liver cells
- Blockage of ducts leading from cells
Conjugated bilirubin name?
Direct bilirubin
Unconjugated bilirubin name?
Indirect bilirubin
Indirect bilirubin is elevated in what 3 cases?
- Anemias
- Trauma from hematoma
- Hemorrhagic pulmonary infarct
Elevation of direct bilirubin is usually related to obstructive jaundice from ________ or _________.
stones; neoplasm
Hepatic metastisis, hepatitis, lymphoma, cholestasis secondary to drug use, and cirrhosis will elevate both ________ and _________ ___________.
direct; indirect; bilirubin
____________ is increased in the presence of liver disease?
Prothrombin time
__________ is part of the blood clotting mechanism?
Prothrombin time
Prothrombin time is increased in the presence of liver disease with cellular damage in what two cases?
- Cirrhosis
2. Metastatic disease
_________ affects the hepatocytes and interferes with liver function
Diffuse disease
________are parenchymal liver cells that performs all the functions?
Hepatocytes
7 common causes of diffuse disease?
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
5 Severe hepatitis - Chronic illness
- Steroids
Diffuse disease patients are usually asymptomatic, however some may present with these 4 symptoms
- Jaundice
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
________increases lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes
Fatty infiltration
Sonographic findings of fatty infiltration?
- increased echogenicity
- Enlargement of affected lobe
- difficulty penetrating the entire liver
- portal veins may be difficult to visualize due to attenuation
General term for inflammatory and infectious disease of the liver?
Hepatitis
What are the three causes of hepatitis?
- local infection (viral hepatitis)
- infection elsewhere in the body (mono)
- Chemical or dug toxicity
Mild inflammation impairs hepatocyte fuction, whereas more severe inflammation may lead to obstruction of ________ and _______ flow in the liver and impaired liver cell function.
blood; bile
what are the 5 types of hepatitis?
- hav
- hbv
- hcv
- hdv
- hev
HBV is ___ % in the US
60
HAV is _____% in the US
20
Other types of hepatitis is _____% in the US
20
What type of hepatitis is found in saliva, semen, and can spread through sexual contact or through blood?
HBV
What type of hepatitis is at greatest risk for healthcare workers?
HBV
HBV symptoms? (4)
- flu-like
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- fatigue
What disease can range from mild damage to massive necrosis and liver failure?
Acute hepatitis
Acute Hepatitis sonographic findings (4)
- liver texture may be normal
- attenuation may be present
- hepatosplenomegaly
- gallbladder wall thickening
_________ exists when there is evidence of hepatic inflammation for at least 3-6 months
chronic hepatitis
what are symptoms of chronic hepatitis? (7)
- nausea
- anorexia
- weightloss
- tremors
- jaundice
- dark urine
- fatigue
Diagnosis these symptoms: nausea, anorexia, weight loss, tremors, jaundice, dark urine, fatigue
chronic hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis sonographic findings (3)
- Liver texture is coarse
- Decreased brightness of portal triad
- No increase in size
Diagnose these sonographic findings:
- liver texture may be normal
- attenuation may be present
- hepatosplenomegaly
- gallbladder wall thickening
Acute hepatitis
________ is a chronic degenerative disease of the liver
cirrhosis
Diagnose these sonographic findings:
- lobes are covered with a fibrous tissue
- the parenchyma degenerates
- the lobes are infiltrated with fat
cirrhosis
What disease is most commonly the result of chronic alcohol abuse but can also be the result of nutritional deprivation, hepatitis, or infection
cirrhosis
Name 3 types of cirrhosis
- biliary
- fatty
- posthepatic
Name the acute cirrhosis symptoms? (9)
- possibly asymptomatic
- nausea
- flatulence
- ascities
- light colored stool
- weakness
- abdominal pain
- varicosities
- spider angiomas
diagnosis these symptoms:
- possibly asymptomatic
- nausea
- flatulence
- ascities
- light colored stool
- weakness
- abdominal pain
- varicosities
- spider angiomas
Acute Cirrhosis
what type of cirrhosis has a symptom of dark urine?
chronic cirrhosis
_______ may lead to liver failure and portal hypertension?
Chronic cirrhosis
diagnosis these sonographic finding:
- diagnosis with ultrasound may be difficult
- coarsening of the liver parenchyma
- nodularity
- increased attenuation
- decreased vascular markings
- hepatosplenomegaly
- Ascites surrounding the liver
- portal hypertension with or without abnormal doppler
- increased incidence of hepatic tumors
- late stage may show atrophy of liver
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis sonographic findings
- diagnosis with ultrasound may be difficult
- coarsening of the liver parenchyma
- nodularity
- increased attenuation
- decreased vascular markings
- hepatosplenomegaly
- Ascites surrounding the liver
- portal hypertension with or without abnormal doppler
- increased incidence of hepatic tumors
- late stage may show atrophy of liver
________ can occur anywhere in the liver
cysts
Are cyst more common in men or women with increasing age?
women
Enlarging simple cyst may cause ______?
pain
Walls of simple cyst are _____ and ______?
thin; well defined
T or F
Simple Cyst are asymptomatic?
T
T or F
Cyst are large (4-5 cm)
False
cyst are small (less than 2-3 cm)
_____% have associated polyycystic renal disease
60
T or F
1 in 500 with polycystic renal disease
T
Sonographic findings of cysts
Anechoic well defined borders posterior enhancement ultrasound may be used for guided aspiration multiple cyst throughout the liver cysts are small (2-3 cm)
_______ is parasitic or infectious collections in the liver
Abscesses
_______ contains seous fluid, pus, degris or blood clots
abscesses
Tiny gas forming organisms may develop within ________
Abscesses
T or F
Abscesses have regular or irregular edges
True
Symptoms of Abscesses (7)
- Patients are usually very ill
- RUQ pain
- Tender hepatomegaly
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomitting
- Weightloss
Diagnosis these symptoms
- Patients are usually very ill
- RUQ pain
- Tender hepatomegaly
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomitting
- Weightloss
Abscesses
_______ are pus forming abscess, usually caused by bacteria.
pyogenic abscess
Pyogenic abscess gains abscess to the liver, from the ______,_______ or _______
biliary tree, portal vein, hepatic artery
Diagnosis this symptom:
- fever
- pain
- pleuritis
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- leukocytosis
phyogenic abscess
phyogenic abscess symptoms
- fever
- pain
- pleuritis
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- leukocytosis
what treatment is used for pyogenic abscess
antibiotic and/or drainage
pyogenic abscesses size vary from__cm to _____
1cm to very large
diagnosis these sonographic findings variable size varies 1cm to very large rt. central lobe is the most common site may be hypoechoic or complex may have fluid level may be hyperechoic with dirty shadow due to gas
pyogenic abscess
pyogenic abscess sonographic findings
variable size varies 1cm to very large rt. central lobe is the most common site may be hypoechoic or complex may have fluid level may be hyperechoic with dirty shadow due
Bowel is most commonly infected in?
Amebic abscess
Amebic abscess infection may spread to the ____, ____ or _____ by the bloodstream
liver, brain or lungs
Amebic Abscess symptoms
Low fever leukocytosis GI symptoms -abd. pain -diarrhea
__________ is an infectious cystic disease common in sheep hearding areas of the world
Echinococcal cyst
________ is a tapeworm that resides in the small intestines of dogs
echinococcus
What type of cyst has larvae enter the small intestine and burrow through the mucosa then enters the portal circulation and travels to the liver
Echinococcal cyst
a ______ cyst has two layers, may enlarge and rupture, may impinge onthe blood vessels and lead to vasculaqr thrombosis and infarctions
Echinococcal cyst
Sonographic Findings
- may be simple or complex
- oval or spherical
- may contain calcifications
- septations are frequent- honeycomb appearance
Echinococcal Cyst
A benign congenital tumor consisting of a large blood filled cystic spaces
Cavernous Hemangioma
What is the most commone benign tumor in the liver, most common in females, and most common in the right lobe
Cavernous Hemangioma
Name symptoms of Cavernous Hemangioma
- Asymptomatic
- small percentage mayb bleed causing RUQ pain
Sonographic Findings
- Hyperechoic
- Posterior Enhancement
- Round or oval
- May be lobulated
- Well defined borders
- May have mixed echo patterns due to necrosis
Cavernous hemangioma
Benign mass of epithelial cells, more commonly in women and are related to long term oral contraceptives
Adenoma
Name symptoms of Adenoma
- usually asymptomatic
- have RUQ pain to hemorage
Name turmor that is asymptomatic, with RUQ pain to hemorage
Adenoma
Name tumor for these sonographic findings:
- usually well circumscribed
- variable in size and shape
- similar appearance to hemangiomas or metastatic massses
Adenoma
What is the second most common benign liver mass after hemangioma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
What tumor is asymptomatic, hemorrrhage is rare, and no malignant potential?
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Name the tumor most commonly seen in females under the age of 40
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Name tumor with these sonographic findings:
- well defined
- hyperechoic or isoechoic to surrounding liver tissue
- ulually less than 5 cm
- Can be mistake for an adenoma or hemangioma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Name the three Benign Hepatic Tumors
Cavernous hemangioma
adenoma
Focal nodular hyperplasia
Name the two malignant hepatic tumors
hepatocellular carcinoma
Metastatic disease
clinical sign of a malignant hepatic tumor (7)
-nausea
-vomiting
-fatigue
-weight loss
-hepatomegally
-portal hypertension
splenomegaly
Which tumor is related to cirrhosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma
80% of patients with preexisting cirrhosis develop _________. Occurs more frequently in men.
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Symptoms of ____________.
- hx of cirrhosis
- palpable mass
- appetite disorder
- hepatomegally
- fever
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Which tumor is present in three patterns?
- solitary massive tumor
- Multiple nodules throughout the liver
- Diffuse infiltrative masses in the liver
Hepatocellular carcinoma
________tumor may invade the hepatic veins to produce __________. Portal venous system may also be invaded.
Hepatocellular carcinoma, Budd-Chiari syndrome
Sonographic appearence:
- Solid discrete masses
- diffuse parenchyma involvement
- combination
Hepatocellular carcinoma
_________ is more common than primary liver tumors
Metastatic disease
Metastatic disease is most common _____ of the liver
neoplasm
Metastatic disease most common primaries _______,_________,_________.
Colon
Breast
Lung
Metastatic spread occurs as the tumor ______ the wall and travels through the ______ ________ or through the bloodstream to the portal vein or hepatic artery to the liver.
erodes, lymphatic system
Sonographic appearence:
- varies
- typically there are multiple lesions throughout both lobes
Metastatic disease
What are the four patterns of Metastatic disease
- well defined hypoechoic mass
- well defined echogenic mass
- diffuse distortion of the normal liver parenchyma
- Targey or Bull’s Eye lesion
Which disease has the target or Bull’s eye lesion?
metastatic disease
Metastatic disease is a result due to _____ around the tumor or _______or _________ within the tumor
edema, necrosis, or hemorrhage
Metastatic disease as the tumor grows rapidly in size they outgrow their _____ _____ and _________ or hemorrhage can occur within the tumor.
blood supply,necrosis
_______ and _________ _________ present a complex waveform, which flows above and below the baseline, relecting the reflux of blood from the right atrium during systome and variations with the respiratory cycle
IVC & Hepatic Veins
Thrombosis of the ___________ is called Budd-Chiari Syndrome
hepatic vein
Sonograpically with hepatic vascular flow abnormalities the hepatic veins appear?
reduced in size and may contain echogenic thrombotic material
The presence of _______blood flow in the hepatic veins permits the exclusion of _____________
typical, Budd-Chiari syndrome
Budd Chiari syndrome is associated with?
- hematologic disorder
- oral contraceptives
- Collagen disease
- Echinococcus
- Before and after pregnancy
What syndrom is associated with oral contraceptives?
Budd Chiari syndrome
In portal veins the flow is ___________.
Hepatopetal(towards the liver)
Flow is hepatopetal, relatively continuous, and varies slightly with respirations with what vein?
portal vein
Sonographic findings:
- lack of doppler signal indicates absence of blood flow
- in cirrhotic patiens, thrombosis is often supsected when ascitese suddenly worsens
Portal vein thrombosis
What are the indirect signs of a portal vein thrombosis?
-loss of normal portal venous landmarks
-dilation of the SMV and splenic veins
venous collaterals in the porta hepatis
Portal veins may be ________to visualize in patients with cirrhosis.
difficult
The portal vein should be examined in what kind of patients?
cirrhotic patients
An increase in portal venous pressure or hepatic venous gradient
Portal venous hypertension
Majority of the time an increase in portal venous pressure or hepatic venous gradient is a result of ?
intrinsic liver disease
Portal venous pressure can also be obstructed by _______,______ and _________or prolonged congestive heart failure
protal vein, hepatic vein, IVC
_______or ________ hepatocellular disease can block the flow of blood throughout the liver, causing it to back up into the ___________.
Acute or Chronic, hepatic portal circulation
In portal venous hypertension doppler techniques are used to determine ?
wheter blood flow in the portal vein is hepatopeta (towards) or hepatofugal(away)
What are the doppler findings of Portal Venous Hypertension?
- portal vein shows low velocity
- patent paraumblical vein
- respiratory variations of the vessel is uaually lost vecause the veins do not collapse with breathing
Sonographic Findings:
- Dilated PV, SV, and SMV
- patent umbilical vein
- varicies
- splenomegaly with dilated splenci radicles
- dimished response to respiration
- dilated SA and HA
- Ascities-f
- small liver with irregularities
Portal Venous Hypertension
In patients with portal venous hypertension the blood flow may take one of seveal paths through? (5)
- coronary-esophagealvarices
- Splenic varices
- Splenorenal shunts
- Recanalized umbilical vein
- Surgical Shunts
Splenic varices the flow in main, right and left portal vein is _________? Flow in splenic vein is __________? Flow in the SMV is ________?
reversed/ hepatofugal, reversed, normal
In Splenorenal Shunts flow in main, right and left portal vein is _______? Flow in splenic vein is __________? Flow in SMV is __________?
reversed/hepatofugal, reversed, normal
In recanalized umbilical vein flow in the main and left portal vein is ________. flow in the right portal vein is __________? flow in the SMV and splenic vein is ________?
normal/hepatopetal, reversed/hepatofugel, normal
What are the four spontaneious shunting sites?
- coronary-gastroesphageal
- paraumbilical vein
- hemorrhoidal anastomoses
- retroperitoneal anastomoses
which spontaneous shunting spot is most common?
coronary gastroesophageal
the spontaneous shunting of the coronary gastroesophageal occurs where the esophageal branches of the ________ form anastomeses with branches of the _______ and _______veins in the lower esophagus.
left gastric vein, azygos, hemiazygos vein
appears as a continuation of the left portal vein and extends to the anterior abdominal wall near the umbilicus?
paraumbilical vein
__________ sponatneous shunting occurs between the superior and middle hemorrhoidal veins?
Hemorrhoidal anastomoses
Vascular structures withing the lesser omentum may cause thickening of the omentum. Small vessels may be seen around the pancreas.
Retroperitoneal anastomoses
TIPS
Transjugular intrhpetic portosystemic shunt
Mesocaval
SMV and IVC
Splenorenal
Splenic vein and renal vein
Portacaval
Portal vein and IVC
Four liver function tests?
- Alanine Aminotransferase
- alkaline Phosphatase
- Bilirubin
- Prothrombin time
Alkaline phosphatase is moderately elevated in what 2 cases?
- Cirrhosis
2. Hepatitis