Ultrasound　is　the　first-line　tool　for　screening　hepatic　steatosis.　Statistical　distributions　can　be　used　to　model　the　backscattered　signals　for　liver　characterization.　The　Nakagami　distribution　is　the　most　frequently　adopted　model;　however,　the　homodyned　K　(HK)　distribution　has　received　attention　due　to　its　link　to　physical　meaning　and　improved　parameter　estimation　through　X-　and　U-statistics　(termed　＂XU＂).　To　assess　hepatic　steatosis,　we　proposed　HK　parametric　imaging　based　on　the　alpha　parameter　(a　measure　of　the　number　of　scatterers　per　resolution　cell)　calculated　using　the　XU　estimator.　Using　a　commercial　system　equipped　with　a　7-MHz　linear　array　transducer,　phantom　experiments　were　performed　to　suggest　an　appropriate　window　size　for　alpha　imaging　using　the　sliding　window　technique,　which　was　further　applied　to　measuring　the　livers　of　rats　(n　=　66)　with　hepatic　steatosis　induced　by　feeding　the　rats　a　methionine-　and　choline-deficient　diet.　The　relationships　between　the　alpha　parameter,　the　stage　of　hepatic　steatosis,　and　histological　features　were　verified　by　the　correlation　coefficient　r,　one-way　analysis　of　variance,　and　regression　analysis.　The　phantom　results　showed　that　the　window　side　length　corresponding　to　five　times　the　pulse　length　supported　a　reliable　alpha　imaging.　The　alpha　parameter　showed　a　promising　performance　for　grading　hepatic　steatosis　(p　＜　0.05;　r(2)　=　0.68).　Compared　with　conventional　Nakagami　imaging,　alpha　parametric　imaging　provided　significant　information　associated　with　fat　droplet　size　(p　＜　0.05;　r(2)=　0.53),　enabling　further　analysis　and　evaluation　of　severe　hepatic　steatosis.