Imaging of diffuse liver disease

Advances in imaging technology and development of liver-specific contrast a gents have significantly increased the role of radiology in the detection a nd characterization of processes diffusely involving the liver. Tailored ma gnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences allow an accurate detection of man y storage and metabolic diseases, such as iron overload disorders and steat osis (fatty liver). Faster scanning techniques available with both computed tomography (CT) and MRI provide, by assessing contrast dynamics, sufficien t information for the characterization of diffuse neoplastic and vascular d isorders. Characteristic changes in attenuation on CT, signal intensity on MRI, and enhancing features can be used to diagnose specific diffuse diseas es such as candidiasis, diffuse/multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma, and sc histosomiasis. Although an overlap in imaging findings still exists, famili arity with the imaging features of uncommon disorders such as Wilson's dise ase, amyloidosis, and sarcoidosis may be diagnostic in the proper clinical setting. This review focuses on the current role of imaging in the detection and cha racterization of diffuse liver disorders. Recent developments that have amp lified the role of noninvasive diagnostic evaluation of these conditions ar e especially highlighted.