Fatty liver usually produces no symptoms. Rarely, it causes jaundice, nausea, vomiting, pain, and abdominal tenderness. A physical examination that reveals an enlarged liver without any other symptoms suggests fatty liver. The diagnosis may be confirmed by performing a liver biopsy, in which a long hollow needle is used to obtain a small tissue sample for examination under a microscope. The mere presence of excessive fat in the liver is not a serious problem.
Treatment aims at eliminating the cause or treating the underlying disorder.
Repeated liver injury from toxic substances such as alcohol may eventually progress from fatty liver to cirrhosis. Alcoholic Liver Disease Alcoholic liver disease is damage to the liver that results from excessive drinking of alcohol. Alcoholic liver disease is a common, preventable health problem. Women are more vulnerable to liver damage than men. However, the amount of alcohol that causes liver damage varies from person to person.