fatty change


fat·ty met·a·mor·pho·sis

the appearance of microscopically visible droplets of fat in the cytoplasm of cells.
See also: fatty degeneration. Synonym(s): fatty change

steatosis

A pattern of reversible cell injury resulting from hypoxia, toxic or metabolic insults, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and protein malnutrition, which consists of an accumulation of droplets of triglcerides/neutral fat in various solid organs—classically, the liver—and most common in alcoholics in whom the changes regress with abstention from alcohol. Fatty changes may also occur in other organs (e.g., heart, muscle, kidney).

fatty change

Any abnormal accumulation of fat within parenchymal cells. It may occur in the heart or other organs. When seen in the liver, it often is a result of excessive and prolonged alcohol intake or obesity.