Ascites is the abnormal buildup of fluid inside the peritoneal cavity (the space within the abdomen). It is most commonly discussed in liver disease, especially cirrhosis, but it has many possible causes. Clinicians use the term Ascites in physical exams, imaging reports, and procedure notes. It can range from mild, incidental fluid to tense fluid that affects breathing and mobility.
Portal Hypertension means abnormally increased pressure in the portal venous system. It most often occurs in people with advanced chronic liver disease, but it can also have non-cirrhotic causes. It is commonly discussed in hepatology, gastroenterology, endoscopy, and GI surgery because it drives major complications like varices and ascites.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a liver disease defined by fatty change (steatosis) plus liver cell injury and inflammation. It sits on the spectrum of fatty liver disease that is not primarily caused by heavy alcohol use. NASH is commonly used as a clinical and pathology term in hepatology, gastroenterology, primary care, and metabolic medicine. It matters because it can be associated with liver scarring (fibrosis) and, in some people, progression to cirrhosis.
NAFLD stands for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It describes excess fat in the liver that is not primarily explained by significant alcohol use. NAFLD is commonly used in hepatology and gastroenterology to classify metabolic-associated liver injury. It appears in clinic notes, imaging reports, and lab-based risk assessments for chronic liver disease.
Fatty Liver refers to excess fat accumulation within liver cells (hepatocytes). In clinical language, this is called hepatic steatosis. It is commonly discussed in primary care and gastroenterology when liver enzymes are abnormal or imaging shows “fatty infiltration.” It can occur without symptoms and may be discovered incidentally.
Liver Fibrosis is the buildup of scar-like tissue in the liver after repeated or long-lasting injury. It reflects a wound-healing response that becomes excessive and disorganized over time. Clinicians use the term to describe disease stage and risk of complications. It is commonly discussed in chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Cirrhosis is advanced, long-standing scarring of the liver that disrupts normal liver structure and function. It develops after repeated or chronic liver injury from many possible causes. In clinical medicine, Cirrhosis is used as a diagnosis and staging term that signals higher risk of complications. It is commonly discussed in gastroenterology, hepatology, internal medicine, surgery, radiology, and critical care.
Alcoholic Hepatitis is an inflammatory liver injury that occurs in the setting of heavy alcohol use. It is a clinical diagnosis used to describe a characteristic pattern of symptoms, laboratory findings, and liver dysfunction. It commonly appears in hospital medicine, gastroenterology, and hepatology when a patient presents with jaundice and systemic inflammation. It is part of the broader spectrum of alcohol-associated liver disease.
Autoimmune Hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the liver. It happens when the immune system attacks liver cells (hepatocytes). Clinicians use the term in hepatology to describe a treatable cause of hepatitis not due to infection or toxins. It is commonly discussed in gastroenterology clinics, liver units, and pathology reports.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. It is caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is commonly discussed in gastroenterology and hepatology because it can lead to chronic liver inflammation and scarring. It is also used as a public health term in screening, diagnosis, and treatment programs for blood-borne infections.