Ultrasound Elastography—Cornerstone of Non-Invasive Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Assessment

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease has become the most common chronic liver disease as well as the most common cause for liver transplantation. With its different methods types, elastography of the liver can be used for non-invasive evaluation of the liver fibrosis and steatosis degree. The article focuses on the description, use, advantages, and limitations of the currently known elastographic techniques. It proposes a simple risk assessment algorithm for the liver fibrosis progress evaluation. The following is an overview of the use of liver and spleen elastography in the detection of clinically relevant portal hypertension. It concludes with research and technological possibilities that could be important to the field in the upcoming years.

Keywords

• liver steatosis
• elastography
• liver fibrosis
• portal hypertension
• non-invasive assessment