Hepatology
Hepatology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and management of liver diseases and disorders. Hepatologists are specialists in this field and deal with conditions affecting the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder. Key areas of hepatology include:
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver caused by viral infections (hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E), autoimmune diseases, or toxins.
Fatty Liver Disease: Includes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease, characterized by fat accumulation in liver cells.
Cirrhosis: Advanced scarring of the liver tissue resulting from chronic liver damage, which can lead to liver failure.
Liver Cancer: Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and secondary (metastatic) liver cancer.