Ultrasound attenuation of the liver: cut-off value and its significance in the diagnostics of chronic diffuse liver diseases

Introduction: Ultrasound (US) has basic significance in the diagnostics of chronic diffuse liver diseases (CDLD). The characteristic image of bright liver shows two major appearances on the basis of liver US attenuation; the low (DI) and the high (DII) attenuation types. During US scanning of the patient, attenuation is measurable by the use of a reference phantom and an appropriate software. It was proved previously that DI is caused by the increase of connective tissue content, while DII is associated with fatty liver and attenuation correlates with subcutaneous fat thickness (SCF). Aim: The question arises, w…