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Fatty Liver Center - Spokane, WA

Spokane Gastroenterologist Doctors for Fatty Liver

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Spokane *

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Arnold N Cohen
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Inland Empire Gastroenterology
James T Doyle
105 W 8th Ave
STE 6050
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 747-0143

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Robert Durnford
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Inland Empire Gastroenterology
Joseph D Fitterer
105 W 8th Ave
STE 6050
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 747-0143

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
James Goff
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Steven E Goodell
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Steven W Hong
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Karl Houglum
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Michael F Kestell
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
David M Maccini
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Zdenek Bocek
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Philip C Delich
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Andrew Feld
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Harold Preiksaitis
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Klaus Gottlieb MD PLLC
Klaus Gottlieb
12128 N Division St
STE PMB164
Spokane, WA 99218
(509) 455-3453

Valley Gastroenterology
Paul M Craig
12401 E Sinto Ave
Spokane, WA 99216
(509) 922-2055

Valley Gastroenterology
Clinton S Poppel
12401 E Sinto Ave
Spokane, WA 99216
(509) 922-2055

Palouse Medical Associates
Lloyd E Perino
825 SE Bishop Blvd
STE STE 200
Pullman, WA 99163
(509) 332-2517

Spokane, Washington

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Throughout Spokane, Washington

Fatty Liver

What are Fatty Liver, NAFLD, and NASH?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a wide spectrum of liver disease ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis), to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver). All of the stages of NAFLD have in common the accumulation of fat (fatty infiltration) in the liver cells (hepatocytes). In NASH, the fat accumulation is associated with varying degrees of inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (fibrosis) of the liver.

The term nonalcoholic is used because NAFLD and NASH occur in individuals who do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Yet, in many respects, the histological picture of NAFLD (when we look at a biopsy piece of liver under the microscope) is similar to what can be seen in liver disease that is due to excessive intake of alcohol. As we shall see, however, the clinical circumstances in NAFLD and NASH are very different from those in alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

What is the NAFLD spectrum?

The NAFLD spectrum is thought to begin with and progress from its simplest stage, called simple fatty liver (steatosis). That is, fatty liver is the initial abnormality in the spectrum of NAFLD. Simple fatty liver involves just the accumulation of fat in the liver cells with no inflammation or scarring. The fat is actually composed of a particular type of fat (triglyceride) that accumulates in tiny sacs within the liver cells. This accumulation of fat in liver cells is not the same as the fat cells (adipocytes) that constitute our body fat. Fatty liver is a harmless (benign) condition, which means that it, by itself, does not cause any significant liver damage.

The next stage and degree of severity in the NAFLD spectrum is NASH. Fortunately, only a fraction of patients with simple fatty liver will develop NASH. As mentioned, NASH involves the accumulation of fat in the liver cells as...

Recommended Reading Related to Fatty Liver

Ultrasound »

Introduction

While the patient's history and physical examination are the building blocks of making a medical diagnosis, the ability to peer inside the body can be a powerful tool. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that provides that ability to medical practitioners.

What is an ultrasound?

Ultrasound produces sound waves that are beamed into the body causing return echoes that are recorded to "visualize" structures beneath the skin. The ability to measure different echoes reflected from a variety of tissues allows a shadow picture to be constructed. The technology is especially accurate at seeing the interface between solid and fluid filled spaces. These are actually the same principles that allow SONAR on boats to see the bottom of the ocean.

What is ultrasonography?

Ultrasonography is body imaging using ultrasound in medical diagnosis. A skilled ultrasound technician is able to...

Emergency Contact for Spokane

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Spokane Hospitals *

Sacred Heart Medical Center
101 W 8th Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
(509)474-3131

St Lukes Rehabilitation Institute
711 S Cowley St
Spokane, WA 99202
(509)838-4771

Deaconess Medical Center
800 W Fifth Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
(509)458-5800

Shriners Hospital Spokane
911 W 5th Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
(509)455-7844

Holy Family Hospital
5633 N Lidgerwood St
Spokane, WA 99208
(509)482-0111

Spokane VA Medical Center
4815 N Assembly St
Spokane, WA 99205
(509)434-7000

Valley Hospital & Medical Center
12606 E Mission Ave
Spokane Valley, WA 99216
(509)924-6650

Eastern State Hospital
850 Maple St
Medical Lake, WA 99022
(509)299-3121

Kootenai Medical Center
2003 Lincoln Way
Coeur D Alene, ID 83814
(208)666-2000

Lincoln Hospital
10 Nichols St
Davenport, WA 99122
(509)725-7101

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