Clinical applications of transient elastography.
10.3350/cmh.2012.18.2.163
- Author:
Kyu Sik JUNG
1
;
Seung Up KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ksukorea@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Review ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Chronic liver disease;
Cirrhosis;
Decompensation;
Fibroscan;
Fibrosis;
Hepatocellular carcinoma;
Liver stiffness measurement;
Transient elastography
- MeSH:
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/epidemiology/physiopathology;
Chronic Disease;
*Elasticity Imaging Techniques;
Hepatitis B/drug therapy/physiopathology;
Hepatitis C/drug therapy/physiopathology;
Humans;
Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/ultrasonography;
Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology/physiopathology;
Recurrence
- From:Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
2012;18(2):163-173
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Chronic liver disease represents a major public health problem, accounting for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. As prognosis and management depend mainly on the amount and progression of liver fibrosis, accurate quantification of liver fibrosis is essential for therapeutic decision-making and follow-up of chronic liver diseases. Even though liver biopsy is the gold standard for evaluation of liver fibrosis, non-invasive methods that could substitute for invasive procedures have been investigated during past decades. Transient elastography (TE, FibroScan(R)) is a novel non-invasive method for assessment of liver fibrosis with chronic liver disease. TE can be performed in the outpatient clinic with immediate results and excellent reproducibility. Its diagnostic accuracy for assessment of liver fibrosis has been demonstrated in patients with chronic viral hepatitis; as a result, unnecessary liver biopsy could be avoided in some patients. Moreover, due to its excellent patient acceptance, TE could be used for monitoring disease progression or predicting development of liver-related complications. This review aims at discussing the usefulness of TE in clinical practice.
