Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I had a liver ultrasound today, and I was informed that my liver appears a bit coarse, but the result is nonspecific. The doctor mentioned there are no fatty liver or gallstones present. I also had my liver function tests done a month ago, along with autoimmune blood tests, and both results came back normal, which I will attach for your review. Should I be concerned about the ultrasound finding?
I do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, and my weight is normal with a BMI of 24.5. I maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Additionally, I had another ultrasound two months ago, at a different clinic, which came back normal. I am feeling worried about this recent result and would appreciate your guidance. I also took Ovex a few days prior to the ultrasound. Could this have affected the liver findings?
Kindly provide your insight.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
I am reviewing your case history and the attached file and will get back to you shortly (attachments removed to protect the patient’s identity). There is nothing remarkable. Your liver function tests, hepatitis B and C tests, and autoimmune profile are all normal. The radiology comment indicating a mild coarse liver is very nonspecific and may be age-related. Additionally, your serum albumin level is normal, which is a marker for liver synthetic function.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I took Ovex (Mebendazole 100mg) four days ago. I took one dose two weeks ago and a second dose four days ago. Could that cause a temporary coarse appearance on the liver? If so, will it go away and return to normal?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
Ovex (Mebendazole 100mg) does not cause such findings. It occasionally causes disturbed liver function tests, but in your case, the tests are already normal.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I am only 38 years old, and I will not receive the report until next week. However, I do not understand how my liver has become coarse. I took Ovex four days ago, and my blood results were taken three days ago before I took Ovex.
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
Your liver is not as coarse as it would be in cases of damage or cirrhosis. With age, there are minor variations, but there is nothing to worry about. If we strictly talk about a coarse liver, there are four stages of fibrosis or coarse liver, and it takes around 20 to 25 years to develop cirrhosis, but only in the presence of triggers like hepatitis B or C, autoimmune conditions, or alcohol use, all of which are negative in your case. So, there is nothing to worry about.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
But in my two-month-old ultrasound scan, I was told it was normal. I did not expect any variation in the recent one. Is this a sign of fatty liver? I am trying to understand what this means and how this happened. Also, Doctor, could this be related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
Ultrasound is always an operator-dependent modality. The ultrasound machine cannot provide any definitive conclusions. It is the operator who interprets the imaging results and gives their opinion. This is why you may notice minor variations in ultrasound reports from different doctors or hospitals.
In your case, if the scan was normal two months ago, it is possible that the recent scan has been over-reported, which may have caused confusion. It is not related to fatty liver or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Please avoid researching your findings on the internet, as it will provide unfiltered information and could confuse you further.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
When you say, this time it might be over-reported which has created confusion, what do you mean? Based on my history, my normal blood results a month ago, and my ultrasound finding today where the doctor mentioned the liver is a bit coarse and nonspecific, what do you conclude is the matter with me? Do I have a liver abnormality or problem? Should I be concerned?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
No, you do not have a liver problem. You should not be concerned about this nonspecific, operator-dependent comment. A fibroscan is a special type of test, similar to an ultrasound, which you can suggest to your doctor if there is any confusion.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Do you think something abnormal will show on my fibroscan?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
I am not expecting anything abnormal in the presence of normal liver function tests.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
In my case, would you say further testing is needed? Can liver function tests change in four weeks? My blood tests were normal a month ago, and I am not sure what they are now. I also want to ask, I am not sure if you saw my previous reports. Four months ago, my ALT was 49, a month ago, it was 109, and and a week ago, it was 19, with all other functions being normal.
I also had a three-week course of antibiotics and a one-week course of Fluconazole four months ago. I also took Naproxen with Fluconazole at that time. With all those medications, could there have been a delay in the results of my ultrasound? For example, could the impact of medication in recent months be showing up now on my ultrasound, or would it have shown up earlier? I would like to clarify the comments the sonographer made about a "coarse liver."
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
You had a drug-induced liver injury, but your ALT (aminotransferase) levels have improved and the issue has already been resolved. A coarse liver takes years to develop, not just one month. A fibroscan is an appropriate test to check liver stiffness or coarse texture.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
So, there is nothing to worry about? Could it be that this sonographer considered my normal liver as a bit coarse, while another sonographer interpreted it as normal? Is that what you are saying?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
Yes, exactly. Nothing to worry about.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I had a liver ultrasound four months ago at one place and a second opinion two months ago at another place. Both reports stated normal results. However, this one today mentioned a coarse liver. Can I ask, in the span of a few months, since four and two months ago, could there be much change? I mean to say, if both previous reports were normal, should that give me confidence that everything is normal? Also, does Ovex damage the liver or cause permanent issues?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
Within two to three months, the liver does not change to coarse. Ovex (Mebendazole) can cause disturbed liver function for a while, but there is no long-term damage or permanent change.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
So, it is correct to disregard her comments? Given the normal liver blood tests and the previous December ultrasound being normal, can I confidently say I am clear?
Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
Ultrasound is an operator-dependent modality, as I mentioned earlier. If there is still confusion after the report, a fibroscan will answer your question.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you for your help doctor.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
You are most welcome.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor, Thank you for the reply. With the scan, is it possible that if the result comes back showing a bit of a coarse liver, it could be due to the antibiotics and medications I took previously, which raised my ALT, now showing on my liver as inflammation? If that is true, would this finding be worrisome? Would the liver return to complete normal after some time? I know my blood tests a month ago were normal. So, if the blood tests are normal, then the liver appearance should also be normal, right? Or is it possible there is a delay in the effects on liver appearance? Kindly provide your insight.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understood your concern.
A coarse liver is not due to liver inflammation. It is due to liver stiffness or fibrosis. It takes years to develop, not just a few months. Mild inflammation, like what you had with drug-induced liver injury, has already resolved. It is not worrisome. If it is officially reported as a mildly coarse liver, I suggest you get a fibroscan for a better understanding. Rather than overthinking and stressing too much, wait for the report. If possible, a fibroscan can help resolve this confusion.
There is nothing to worry about, at least for now.
I hope this has helped you.
Kindly follow up if you have more doubts.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
So, I had a normal liver scan two months ago. It is unlikely to be fibrosis or anything, as it was normal then and my liver function tests are normal. Am I also correct in thinking that if it were fibrosis, my blood tests would show abnormalities?
Kindly help.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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