What does liver calcification spot mean?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jin Zhongkui
Introduction
Liver calcification is generally caused by diseases. The presence of calcified spots in the liver may be part of calcification within the intrahepatic bile duct walls. It is often caused by inflammation, tuberculosis, or other conditions, and may also result from localized necrosis of liver tissue followed by calcification and fibrosis, forming scars. In fact, intrahepatic calcified foci and fibrotic scars due to localized liver tissue necrosis may produce strong echoes and acoustic shadows on imaging, similar to those seen with stones.
The liver primarily functions as a detoxifying organ. However, when liver disease occurs, toxins often cannot be efficiently eliminated from the body. What does “hepatic calcification” mean?
What does “hepatic calcification” mean?
Hepatic calcification indicates underlying liver pathology. There are multiple potential causes of hepatic calcification. It may result from calcification of the intrahepatic bile duct walls—commonly triggered by inflammatory conditions or pulmonary tuberculosis—or from localized hepatic necrosis followed by intrahepatic calcification and fibrotic scarring. This is one of the key distinguishing features between hepatic calcification and intrahepatic bile duct stones. With the widespread adoption and advancement of ultrasound technology across healthcare facilities, many asymptomatic individuals undergoing routine health examinations are found to have strongly echogenic foci in the liver accompanied by acoustic shadowing resembling stones—leading them to mistakenly believe they have intrahepatic bile duct stones.
Hepatic calcification is generally secondary to disease. Calcified foci in the liver may represent partial calcification of the intrahepatic bile duct walls—often attributable to inflammation or pulmonary tuberculosis—or may arise from calcification and fibrosis following localized hepatic necrosis, resulting in scar formation. Both intrahepatic calcified lesions and fibrotic scars from localized hepatic necrosis can produce strong echogenicity and acoustic shadowing mimicking stones; however, they typically do not cause dilation of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts.
In contrast, biliary stones cause dilation of small bile ducts proximal to the obstruction site. Moreover, the strongly echogenic stone clusters exhibit a characteristic distribution aligned along the course of the right and left hepatic ducts. We hope this explanation has been helpful. Wishing you good health and happiness!
