Table 1 Criteria of the hepatic aspects considered and relative scoring system for ultrasonographic diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Liver/kidney parenchyma

a) Homogeneous echotexture and absence of significant contrast with kidney parenchyma

b) Slight increase in liver/kidney echodiscrepancy

c) Extreme echodiscrepancy between liver and kidney

Portal vein walls clarity

a) Clear definition of portal vein walls and structures

b) Decreased definition of portal vein walls and structures

c) Blurred visualisation of portal vein walls

Posterior echo-penetration

a) Clear definition of hepatic structures from diaphragm

b) Decreased definition of liver and diaphragm structures

c) Blurred diaphragm with loss of definition