The paracolic gutters (also known as paracolic sulci, paracolic recesses) are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall. Trace/small amounts of free fluid in this region is a normal finding in individuals without symptoms or known abdominal/pelvic disease.
The portal vein is the main blood vessel that brings blood to the liver from the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder. Right before reaching the liver, the portal vein splits into the left and right portal veins. An enlarged portal vein may occur as a result of portal hypertension (high blood pressure of the liver blood system), which is most often caused by cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or blockages in the portal vein or veins that carry blood from the liver to the heart.
Fatty liver occurs when too much fat accumulates in the liver. The most common causes of excess liver fat are alcohol intake and a poor diet (highly processed foods such as sugars, refined grains, fried foods, desserts and snack foods contribute the most to this).
Fat fraction indicates the percent of cells within the liver that are fat cells. Fat fraction does not indicate whether someone has cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).Mild fatty liver = fat fraction of 5 - 15%Moderate fatty liver = fat fraction of 15 - 30%Severe fatty liver = fat fraction greater than 30%
Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign (non-cancerous) lesion that consists of liver cells surrounding a central scar. While the exact cause of FNH is unknown, it is thought to occur as a response to arterial malformations (either acquired or present at birth) within the liver. FNH is the second most prevalent liver lesion (the first being hemangioma), usually found incidentally on imaging, and typically does not cause symptoms or require treatment.
The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. Its main function is to produce enzymes that help with digestion and hormones that help regulate the way the body processes sugar. Fatty infiltration (FI) of the pancreas is relatively common; however, the cause of FI of the pancreas is complicated and multifactorial.
