The liver serves as a critical site for lipid metabolism. Under pathological conditions such as obesity and metabolic disorders, disrupted lipid metabolism leads to abnormal accumulation of triglycerides within hepatocytes. Persistent and excessive fat accumulation may exacerbate hepatocyte injury, progressively evolving into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, quantifying hepatic fat content is crucial for early diagnosis and disease management. This article summarizes advances in imaging techniques for assessing hepatic steatosis, with a focus on the clinical application and progress of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction in quantitative hepatic fat measurement.
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