Noninvasive imaging biomarkers for liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: current and future

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent worldwide and becoming a major cause of liver disease-related morbidity and mortality. The presence of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD is closely related to prognosis, including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and other complications of cirrhosis. Therefore, assessment of the presence of significant or advanced liver fibrosis is crucial. Although liver biopsy has been considered the "gold standard" method for evaluating the degree of liver fibrosis, it is not suitable for extensive use in all patients with NAFLD owing to its invasiveness and high cost. Therefore, noninvasive biochemical and imaging biomarkers have been developed to overcome the limitations of liver biopsy. Imaging biomarkers for the stratification of liver fibrosis have been evaluated in patients with NAFLD using different imaging techniques, such as transient elastography, shear wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography. Furthermore, artificial intelligence and deep learning methods are increasingly being applied to improve the diagnostic accuracy of imaging techniques and overcome the pitfalls of existing imaging biomarkers. In this review, we describe the usefulness and future prospects of noninvasive imaging biomarkers that have been studied and used to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Diagnostic imaging; Liver fibrosis; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Figure 1.

Currently used noninvasive imaging biomarkers in NAFLD. NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; SWE, shear wave elastography.

Figure 2.

Algorithm for risk discrimination in patients with NAFLD using noninvasive imaging biomarkers. NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; LS, liver stiffness; VCTE, vibration-controlled transient elastography; MRE, magnetic resonance elastography; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma.