The MASLD medical abbreviation is short for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease, a condition in which extra fat builds up in the liver in a person who also has at least one metabolic risk factor, such as excess weight, high blood sugar or high blood pressure. Older records call the same condition nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD.
International liver societies changed the wording so the label names the underlying metabolic cause, and to drop words some patients found stigmatizing. So you may see MASLD on a recent ultrasound report and NAFLD on an older one, both describing the same kind of fatty liver. This page explains the letters, the related terms MASH and MetALD, and how the diagnosis appears in notes.
At a glance
Stands for
Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver diseaseOlder name
NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseInflamed form
Umbrella term
SLD, steatotic liver diseaseSpecialty
Hepatology, gastroenterology, primary care, endocrinologyWhere you see it
Ultrasound reports, liver clinic notes, problem listsRelated labs
Unpacking the MASLD medical abbreviation
Splitting the name into its parts makes it far less intimidating.
| Letters | Words | What they mean |
|---|---|---|
| MA | Metabolic dysfunction associated | Linked to problems such as excess weight, insulin resistance, high blood pressure or abnormal blood fats |
| S | Steatotic | Fatty; steatosis is the medical word for fat buildup in an organ |
| L | Liver | The organ involved |
| D | Disease | A recognized medical condition |
To fit the label, a person usually has fat in the liver plus at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors, and no other main cause of the fat.
NAFLD, NASH, MASH and MetALD: how the names line up
The renaming created a small family of terms, and older and newer records often sit side by side.
| Older term | Newer term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| NAFLD | MASLD | Fat in the liver with metabolic risk factors |
| NASH | MASH | The same condition with inflammation and liver cell injury |
| No exact match | MetALD | Metabolic fatty liver in someone who also drinks more alcohol than a set threshold |
All of these fall under the broader heading of steatotic liver disease.
Reading MASLD in a report
The term usually follows an imaging finding or blood test pattern.
Ultrasound and clinic summary: "US abdomen: diffuse hepatic steatosis. Impression: MASLD, T2DM, obesity. Plan: elastography to assess fibrosis." US is ultrasound, hepatic steatosis is fat in the liver, T2DM is type 2 diabetes, and elastography is a quick, painless scan that estimates liver stiffness, a sign of scarring.
Liver enzymes such as ALT may be mildly raised or completely normal, so a normal blood test does not rule the condition out.
Why liver scarring is the main focus
Many people with MASLD never develop serious liver problems. The concern is that over years some develop MASH, then scarring called fibrosis, and in a smaller share cirrhosis or liver cancer, written HCC. For that reason, care teams often estimate fibrosis risk with a blood based score and stiffness scanning rather than relying on enzymes alone.
Heart disease is actually the most common serious problem in people with this condition, which is why notes often talk about blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar in the same breath as the liver.
Questions you might ask about a MASLD diagnosis
Short questions can help you understand where you stand.
- Has my fibrosis level been checked, and how?
- Is there inflammation, meaning MASH, or only fat?
- Which of my metabolic risk factors matter most here?
- How often should my liver be checked again?
Other condition shorthand lives in the diagnosis abbreviations section.
Here you have the meaning of a newer liver term. Your primary care clinician or liver specialist is best placed to explain what it means for your health and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
What does MASLD stand for?
MASLD stands for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease. It describes excess liver fat in someone with metabolic risk factors such as excess weight, diabetes or high blood pressure.
Is MASLD the same as NAFLD?
Nearly. MASLD is the newer name that replaced NAFLD, and most people diagnosed with NAFLD meet the new definition. The new criteria require at least one metabolic risk factor.
What is the difference between MASLD and MASH?
MASLD means fat in the liver. MASH is a more active form with inflammation and liver cell injury, which raises the chance of scarring over time.
Why did fatty liver get a new name?
The goal was a label built on the actual driver, metabolic dysfunction. Leaders in liver care also wanted wording free of terms some patients found stigmatizing.