What is Liver Calcification and What Are the Causes of Calcification Within the Liver?
Liver calcification is a benign condition generally caused by excessive calcium in the liver. Generally, no treatment is required for this condition. Liver function tests and viral DNA quantification can be conducted. If liver function is normal and the virus count is low, simple calcified foci do not require treatment. This has no impact on liver function and there is no need for concern. Of course, regular follow-up examinations are recommended.
1. Chronic Inflammation or Trauma in the Liver
Chronic inflammation in the liver is most commonly seen in liver tuberculosis and liver abscesses, and less commonly in fungal diseases, Brucellosis, portal vein thrombosis, and nodular diseases. These calcified foci lack characteristic B-ultrasound and CT images, making it difficult to distinguish them from primary liver cancer and intrahepatic metastatic tumors.
2. Parasitic Infections of the Liver
Parasitic diseases of the liver can also present as intrahepatic calcified foci. Common examples include echinococcosis and hepatic schistosomiasis. The former is more common in herdsmen, while the latter is more common in farmers and fishermen in endemic areas. Echinococcosis involves multiple small cysts in the liver that grow moistly and are not clearly delineated from normal liver tissue, with calcium salt deposits on the cyst wall.
3. Intrahepatic Bile Duct Stones
The presence of intrahepatic bile duct stones can cause localized necrosis and fibrotic traces in liver tissue, leading to dilation of small bile ducts at the site of obstruction.
4. Congenital Development
Some cases are congenital, formed before birth when the fetus already has intrahepatic calcified foci in the uterus. This is often associated with congenital malformations and has a detection rate of 0.057%.
5. Liver Diseases
Some liver diseases are common causes of intrahepatic calcified foci, such as liver cysts, liver tumors, and primary liver cancer. Through the above introduction, I believe everyone now understands what intrahepatic calcified foci are. Although intrahepatic calcified foci do not have a significant impact on patients' lives, treatment and management should not be neglected.
