What are the three degrees of liver texture?
Oct 11, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Chao
Introduction
Liver texture is generally classified into three degrees: soft, firm, and hard. During examination of liver texture, the patient usually lies supine with relaxed abdominal muscles and knees flexed. As the patient takes deep breaths, a trained physician performs palpation using either one hand or both hands to determine the liver's texture and its corresponding stage. It is recommended to undergo liver function tests and color ultrasound imaging of the liver to accurately assess the severity of the condition.
The texture of the liver is generally classified into three degrees: soft, firm, and hard.
1. Soft
Palpation to assess liver texture is an auxiliary method for evaluating liver diseases. In healthy individuals, the liver typically feels soft during examination—similar to the texture of the lips—indicating no liver damage and representing a normal condition.
2. Firm
If the liver feels firm during examination, this indicates moderate hardness, similar to the tip of the nose. This texture is commonly observed in patients with conditions such as hepatic congestion, fatty liver, or hepatitis.
3. Hard
If the liver feels hard—comparable to the forehead—it may indicate a more severe liver disease, frequently seen in patients with cirrhosis or liver cancer.
During liver texture assessment, the patient usually lies supine with relaxed abdominal muscles and knees bent. As the patient breathes deeply, a trained physician performs palpation using either one hand or both hands to determine the liver's texture. If the liver is found to be firm or hard, timely evaluation through liver function tests and liver ultrasound should be conducted to determine the severity of the condition.
