Liver elastography: what it is, how it is done, and how it is interpreted

Abstract

Liver elastography is a noninvasive method for diagnosing fibrosis that has been developed over the last decade in response to the limitations of liver biopsies, blood markers, and traditional imaging modalities. There are different methods of measuring tissue stiffness through ultrasound; thus far, shear wave elastography has proven superior for diagnosing clinically significant liver fibrosis, where early detection modifies the approach to treatment and improves prognosis. This article aims to provide a brief review of the different methods for performing elastography with ultrasound, focusing especially on shear wave elastography and on technical aspects for carrying out the procedure and key points for interpreting the findings.

Keywords: Elastografía por ultrasonido; Fibrosis hepática; Hepatic fibrosis; Hígado; Liver; Metavir; Ultrasound elastography.