Q: What is meant by diffuse hypoechogenicity of the liver?

A:Hypoechogenicity of the liver means that the liver is not as echoic as normal on ultrasound. In diagnostic ultrasound, a very high frequency sound is directed into the body. The tissue surfaces reflect the sound and the resulting pattern of sound reflection is processed by a computer to produce a moving image on a screen or photographic film (echoes). By itself, hypoechogenicity does not signify a significant liver problem.