Alcoholic fatty liver

**Definition:** Alcoholic fatty liver is abnormal retention of lipids in liver cells evident as stainable fat (steatosis) due to excessive intake of alcohol. It is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease. It is difficult to histologically distinguish alcoholic fatty liver from non-alcoholic fatty liver. Diagnosis is dependent on history of level of alcohol intake (see definition of NAFLD (Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)).