There are many different diseases that can impair liver function. Hepatitis A, B, and C are all inflammatory diseases that can damage your liver. Cirrhosis is permanent scarring of the liver that can result from many different causes, though alcohol dependence is often a leading factor. Cirrhosis can also cause ascites to leak into other parts of the body, often resulting in a distended stomach. Patients who do not drink excessively may still develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease when an excess of fat is stored in the cells of the liver. There are several different types of liver cancer, though the most common type is hepatocellular carcinoma, which typically occurs after cirrhosis has already been diagnosed. Liver failure can be the result of genetic disease, infection, or excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.