What condition results from fat deposits building up in normal liver cells due to heavy drinking?

The condition that results from fat deposits accumulating in normal liver cells as a consequence of heavy drinking is indeed acute fatty liver. This condition is characterized by the excessive buildup of fat in liver cells, often presented in individuals who consume large amounts of alcohol. It is typically reversible if a person stops drinking, making it an early sign of alcohol-related liver disease.

In this condition, the liver cells are overwhelmed and cannot efficiently process fats due to the toxic effects of alcohol. This leads to a significant increase in fat content within the liver, which can cause swelling and impair liver function temporarily.

Other liver conditions mentioned, such as cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and liver cancer, are typically associated with more severe liver damage and represent progressive stages of liver disease that can occur after long-term alcohol abuse. Cirrhosis involves irreversible scarring of the liver, while alcoholic hepatitis refers to inflammation due to alcohol consumption. Liver cancer can arise as a consequence of chronic liver damage and disease, but it does not occur as a direct result of fat accumulation in liver cells from heavy drinking like acute fatty liver does.