Located in the right upper abdomen, the liver is the largest solid organ in the human body. Responsible for a wide range of functions including glucose regulation, blood filtration, blood clotting, and more, a healthy liver is vital to our daily health. Studies estimate that nearly 2 millions deaths are attributable to chronic liver disease worldwide. Causes of liver disease range from high fat diets, increased alcohol consumption, viral infections, or autoimmune diseases.
At simonONE, we want to empower our patients to take a closer look at their bodies, and discover the lifestyle changes needed to preserve liver health. Our simonONE Plus scan includes liver quantification, a form of technology that performs highly detailed magnetic resonance imaging of the entire liver. By doing so, evidence of liver disease can be detected and quantified through the measurement of fat, iron, and inflammation.
The measurement of iron within the liver helps to screen for conditions like hemochromatosis. Affecting more than a million Americans, hemochromatosis is a disorder in which the body stores excess iron. Excess iron absorption and deposition into organs can cause organ malfunction and life-threatening conditions. Nearly 30 percent of the US population has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Accumulation of fat within the liver is associated with conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypothyroidism. Without early intervention, the disease can progress to permanent liver scarring and inflammation, acting as a leading indication for liver transplants. Fortunately, mild forms of non-alcoholic liver disease are reversible with lifestyle modifications in diet and exercise. Receiving an annual simonONE MRI screening will allow your radiologist to get a baseline look at your liver and monitor quantitative measurements showing a reversal or progression of liver disease. Preventative and proactive healthcare is within your reach, and we can’t wait for you to join us here!
