"Bright" liver at ultrasonography predicts fatty liver.To assess prevalence and predictors of a bright liver.Prevalence arm--Prospective collection of records of unselected patients undergoing liver ultrasound. Protocol arm--A sample of patients with bright liver underwent routine laboratory investigations, liver tests, HBsAg and anti-HCV.No difference was found in mean values of fasting plasma glucose, LDL cholesterol, total bilirubin, GOT, GPT, AP, GGT, and serum bile acids or in the prevalence of serum HBsAg and anti-HCV in bright liver vs control groups. Univariate analysis showed body mass index, age, total cholesterol triglycerides, albumin, HDL cholesterol to be significantly.Roughly 20% of patients undergoing US for routine clinical practice will have a bright liver and levels are the independent predictors of a bright liver.