Role of diagnostic imaging in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a wide spectrum of conditions, ranging from simple steatosis (SS) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Because NASH progresses to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the differentiation from SS is very important for the clinical management. Although liver biopsy is a gold standard for the diagnosis of NASH, it cannot be frequently repeated due to its invasiveness. Therefore, it would be of clinical value if we could presume the liver pathology radiologically. Herein, we would like to outline how diagnostic imaging can contribute to the clinical practice of NAFLD, especially to the estimation of liver fibrosis.