Real-time elastography in the assessment of liver fibrosis: a review of qualitative and semi-quantitative methods for elastogram analysis
Francesco Paparo, Francesco Corradi, Luca Cevasco, Matteo Revelli, Andrea Marziano, Lucio Molini, Giovanni Cenderello, Giovanni Cassola, Gian Andrea Rollandi, Francesco Paparo, Francesco Corradi, Luca Cevasco, Matteo Revelli, Andrea Marziano, Lucio Molini, Giovanni Cenderello, Giovanni Cassola, Gian Andrea Rollandi
Abstract
Despite its invasiveness, liver biopsy is still considered the gold standard for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis. Non-invasive ultrasound-based techniques are increasingly employed to assess parenchymal stiffness and the progression of chronic diffuse liver diseases. Real-time elastography is a rapidly evolving technique that can reveal the elastic properties of tissues. This review examines qualitative and semi-quantitative methods developed for analysis of real-time liver elastograms, to estimate parenchymal stiffness and, indirectly, the stage of fibrosis. Qualitative analysis is the most immediate approach for elastogram analysis, but this method increases intra- and inter-observer variability, which is seen as a major limitation of real-time elastography. Semi-quantitative methods include analysis of the histogram derived from color-coded maps, as well as calculation of the elastic ratio and fibrosis index.
Keywords: Elastic ratio; Fibrosis index; Liver fibrosis; Real-time elastography.
Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: PubMed