Hemochromatosis is a disorder characterized by excessive iron absorption and deposition in body organs, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas. It can be hereditary or acquired from chronic blood transfusions or other conditions. On ultrasound, the liver in hemochromatosis may appear normal in early stages or show increased echogenicity as iron deposits and fibrosis accumulate. Advanced disease can progress to cirrhosis with the typical ultrasound findings of a nodular, shrunken liver. Elastography can help assess the degree of liver fibrosis, and ultrasound screening for hepatocellular carcinoma is recommended because hemochromatosis significantly increases the risk of liver cancer.
Sonography Term