On January 13, 2026, a research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) made headlines with a breakthrough that could change the way doctors detect and monitor fatty liver disease. Using only ultrasound technology, the team succeeded in visualizing blood vessels inside the liver in three dimensions, a feat that lays the foundation for earlier, more precise diagnosis and better tracking of treatment responses. The findings, published in Nature Communications in November 2025, are already sparking hope among clinicians and patients alike.
Fatty liver disease, the most prevalent chronic liver condition worldwide, is notorious for its silent progression. Many people with the disease experience no symptoms as fat accumulates in their liver cells, but the condition can quietly advance to inflammation, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. According to POSTECH, this makes early detection and continuous monitoring not just helpful, but essential for avoiding irreversible damage.
Traditional ultrasound, while widely used in clinics, has its drawbacks. Its results can depend heavily on the skill of the operator, and it doesn’t match the accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for assessing fat accumulation in liver tissue. Still, ultrasound’s speed, safety, and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive option—if only its precision could be improved.
This is where the POSTECH team, led by Professors Kim Cheol-hong and An Yong-ju, stepped in. Their approach focused on the subtle vascular changes that occur as fatty liver disease progresses. By leveraging ultrafast Doppler imaging—a technology that captures thousands of ultrasound images per second—they built a “3D multi-parametric ultrasound imaging system.” This system is capable of capturing blood flow inside microvessels thinner than a human hair, something previously out of reach for conventional ultrasound devices.
To achieve this, the researchers didn’t rely on a single trick. They combined ultrafast Doppler imaging with Attenuation Imaging (ATI) and Acoustic Structure Quantification (ASQ), two advanced ultrasound techniques that assess fat accumulation and structural changes in liver tissue. The result? A comprehensive 3D imaging platform that analyzes both vascular and tissue information together, much like a satellite observing traffic patterns in a city, but at the microscopic scale of the liver’s intricate blood vessel network.
Over an eight-week study, the team tracked the progression of fatty liver disease in real time, using their new system to observe changes in liver tissue and microvasculature in unprecedented detail. The images they captured revealed how blood vessels become blocked or tangled as the disease worsens, as well as how these changes can reverse during recovery. According to POSTECH, this ability to monitor both deterioration and healing could prove invaluable for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments and predicting patient outcomes.
One of the most striking findings was the high correlation between vascular indicators—essentially, measurements of blood flow and vessel structure—and the degree of hepatic steatosis, or fat accumulation in the liver. By integrating various ultrasound indicators and applying machine learning algorithms, the team was able to calculate a composite ultrasound score that classified fatty liver grades with an impressive average accuracy of 92%. That’s a significant leap forward for a technology that, until now, was often criticized for being too subjective and inconsistent.
Professor Kim Cheol-hong emphasized the clinical significance of this advance, stating, "Ultrafast ultrasound blood flow imaging has significant clinical value as it goes beyond conventional tissue-based diagnosis by directly incorporating microvascular changes into the diagnostic process." His colleague, Professor An Yong-ju, echoed this sentiment, noting, "By detecting and utilizing changes occurring at the microvascular level early on, we have opened up new possibilities for precision medicine, and we anticipate its application can be extended to various other liver diseases."
The research team’s work did not go unnoticed. Their publication in Nature Communications was a testament to the rigor and novelty of their approach. The breakthrough also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration: Professors Kim and An hail from departments spanning electrical engineering, IT convergence engineering, and mechanical engineering, reflecting the blend of expertise needed to push the boundaries of medical imaging.
The potential impact of this technology extends well beyond academic circles. Fatty liver disease, often linked to metabolic dysfunction, obesity, and diabetes, is increasing worldwide. Many patients don’t realize they have a problem until the disease has progressed to a dangerous stage. The ability to detect microvascular changes before symptoms appear could enable doctors to intervene earlier, tailor treatments more precisely, and give patients a better chance at a full recovery.
While MRI remains the gold standard for liver imaging in terms of accuracy, it’s expensive and not always accessible—especially in community clinics or developing countries. By contrast, ultrasound is portable, relatively affordable, and safe for repeated use. The new 3D imaging system, if widely adopted, could democratize advanced liver diagnostics, bringing high-level care to more people around the globe.
Of course, no technology is without its challenges. The system’s reliance on sophisticated machine learning algorithms means that proper calibration and validation will be key to ensuring consistent results across different hospitals and patient populations. There’s also the question of training clinicians to interpret the new types of images and data the system provides. But the POSTECH team is optimistic. Their study demonstrated the high reproducibility and robustness of their approach, suggesting it can be reliably implemented in clinical practice.
Looking ahead, the researchers believe their technology could be adapted to monitor other liver diseases—such as hepatitis or fibrosis—where changes in blood flow and tissue structure are important indicators of disease activity. As Professor An Yong-ju put it, "By detecting and leveraging changes at the microvascular level at an early stage, we presented a new possibility for precision medicine."
In an era where chronic diseases are on the rise and healthcare systems are under pressure to do more with less, innovations like this offer a glimpse of a future where diagnosis is not just faster and cheaper, but also more accurate and personalized. For patients with fatty liver disease—and potentially many others—the promise of seeing what was once invisible could make all the difference.
