Publication date: Sep 20, 2023

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) continues to be a global health concern, responsible for a significant number of deaths worldwide. While most individuals who consume alcohol do not develop ALD, heavy drinkers and binge drinkers are at increased risk. Unfortunately, ALD is often undetected until it reaches advanced stages, frequently associated with portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). ALD is now the leading indication for liver transplantation. The incidence of alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early diagnosis of ALD is therefore important in patient management and determination of prognosis, as abstinence can halt disease progression. The spectrum of ALD includes steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis, with steatosis being the most common manifestation. Diagnostic techniques including ultrasound, CT, and MRI provide useful information for identifying ALD and excluding other causes of liver dysfunction. Heterogeneous steatosis and transient perfusion changes on CT and MRI in the clinical setting of alcohol-use disorder is diagnostic of severe AH. Elastography techniques are useful for assessing fibrosis and for monitoring treatment response. These various imaging modalities are also useful in the HCC surveillance and diagnosis. This article reviews the imaging modalities currently used in the evaluation of ALD, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and clinical applications.

Semantics

Original Article