The Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation yesterday said its free abdominal ultrasound tests showed that among 4,663 people, 81.4 percent have liver abnormalities, including 53 percent with fatty liver disease.
The foundation launched a free abdominal ultrasound event from 8:30am to 11:30am yesterday at 24 healthcare facilities nationwide, due to the upcoming World Hepatitis Day, which is on Friday.
A total of 4,663 people received the abdominal ultrasound test, and 3,795 people among them had abnormalities, accounting for 81.4 percent of all test recipients, foundation chief executive officer Yang Pei-ming (楊培銘) said.
Photo: CNA
A total of 2,505 people were found to have fatty liver disease, accounting for about 53 percent of all test recipients, he said, adding that 121 people were suspected to have liver cancer while 10 of them are very likely to have liver cancer, and 111 people were diagnosed with unidentified liver tumors, which need further examination for confirmation.
The tests also found 1,064 people with benign liver tumors, such as hemangiomas and liver cysts, 551 people with gallbladder polyps, 378 people with liver parenchymal lesions, 44 people with enlarged spleen, 133 people with tumors in other abdominal organs, and five people with liver cirrhosis, the foundation said.
Yang said chronic infection of hepatitis B or C viruses increase the risk of liver cancer, as extended or repeated inflammation of the liver can cause scarring, and if it is left untreated, the individual would develop cirrhosis, which cannot be reversed and can lead to liver cancer.
Therefore, getting an abdominal ultrasound regularly is the best way to detect liver abnormalities or liver cancer at early stages, which mostly do not have symptoms and cannot be detected through blood tests, he said, adding that early detection allows for more treatment options and better prognosis.
However, Yang said the preliminary results suggests that half of the adults in Taiwan might have fatty liver disease, and people should not neglect it, as chronic fatty liver disease can also progress into liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and it has been linked an increased risk of liver cancer.
Most fatty liver disease cases are non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a condition in which fat builds up in liver and is often associated with excessive eating and obesity, so the best prevention method is to “eat less and do more exercise,” he said, adding that adults 30 years old and above are suggested to get regular abdominal ultrasound tests to keep track of their health.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS