Are my mom’s scan results serious? What should we do next?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother, a 50-year-old female, has been experiencing recurrent episodes of diarrhea for the past several months, with each episode lasting a few days. The most recent episode lasted about 10 days but has resolved over the past couple of days.

She has a long-standing history of stomach and digestive issues, though she currently feels fine. Given the frequency of these episodes, we recently performed an abdominal ultrasound.

The ultrasound report indicates a non-specific inflammatory bowel lesion, minimal ascites, mild hepatomegaly, and mild to moderate fatty infiltration of the liver. She has no known history of liver disease or specific gastrointestinal diagnoses.

She is currently on Clonazepam 0.5 milligrams for depression and anxiety. Still, she is not on any medications specifically for her gastrointestinal complaints and has not previously sought treatment for this recurring issue.

We would like to understand the significance of these ultrasound findings and what the next steps should be, especially since we are unable to consult a gastroenterologist immediately. Are these findings urgent, or can we wait for a few days until a specialist consultation is possible?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Based on the ultrasound findings of a non-specific inflammatory bowel lesion, minimal ascites, and mild hepatomegaly with fatty infiltration of the liver, the condition does not appear to be acutely life-threatening at this moment, especially since your mother is currently feeling well and the diarrhea has subsided. However, these findings do indicate underlying issues that need further evaluation.

The minimal ascites and fatty liver may point toward early liver stress, inflammation, or a metabolic concern, and the bowel lesion raises the possibility of chronic gastrointestinal conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a low-grade infection.

Until she can see a gastroenterologist, some supportive steps can be taken at home, such as

Follow a gut-friendly, low-fat, non-irritant diet.
Avoid oily, spicy, and processed foods.
Bland meals such as soft rice, lentils (dal), steamed vegetables, boiled potatoes, and fruits like bananas or apples (peeled) are ideal.
If tolerated, curd or yogurt can be included to support gut health.
Ensure she stays hydrated by drinking water, oral rehydration solution (ORS), or tender coconut water.

To support her liver, alcohol and unnecessary over-the-counter medications should be strictly avoided. While supplements like silymarin (milk thistle) or Liv 52 (an herbal liver tonic with Himsra, Kasani, Mandur Bhasma, and other Ayurvedic ingredients for liver support and digestion) are commonly used for liver health, they should be used cautiously and only for short-term support unless advised by a physician.

Clonazepam, which she is taking for anxiety, is not a primary liver toxin. Still, in long-term use, any medication should be reviewed periodically for safety, especially when liver findings are present. Be alert for any red flag symptoms such as:

Persistent abdominal pain.
Swelling.
High-grade fever.
Vomiting.
Blood in the stool.
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Recurrence of severe diarrhea.

If any of these appear, seek medical attention promptly, even before her gastro appointment. Once feasible, you can undergo the following tests:

Liver function tests (LFTs).
Complete blood count (CBC), ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), and CRP (C-reactive protein) to assess systemic inflammation.
Stool routine and culture.
Serology for hepatitis B and C.

While there is no cause for panic, these findings should not be overlooked and do require timely follow-up and further evaluation.

I hope this information helps you.