New technologies in liver fibrosis assessment, with special consideration of dynamic elastography
Journal Title: European Journal of Medical Technologies - Year 2015, Vol 10, Issue 1
Abstract
Liver diseases leading to cirrhosis and liver failure pose a frequent problem encountered in clinical practice by various specialists. The insidious and latent progress of liver diseases, including especially those of infectious origin, is a source of major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The period between the emergence of the initial unspecific symptoms to an accurate diagnosis is frequently too long. Therefore, there has been a wide search for new methods of assessing the degree of fibrosis advancement. Until recently core-needle biopsy was the only method of assessing liver fibrosis [1]. Currently use is made of plasma biomarkers, such as APRI, GAPRI and the Fibrotest, along with imaging examinations, including magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), supersonic shear wave imaging (SSWI), acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI) and transient elastography (TE). Liver biopsy is a gold standard for staging of fibrosis and diagnosis of cirrhosis. Under local anesthesia, a core of liver tissue is obtained for pathologic analysis. The intervention has many contraindications and is subject to risk of complications and reduction in quality of life. Currently transient elastography enjoys great popularity. The measurement of transient elastography is performed by a FibroScan®. To evaluate the stiffness of the liver using both ultrasonic waves 3,5 MHz and low frequency waves 50 Hz. The speed of waves propagation is directly related to the flexibility (stiffness) of the hepatic parenchyma. The examination is non-invasive, painless, repeatable, short, without side effects. In many scientific articles it has been confirmed high consistency of results compared to liver biopsy.
Authors and Affiliations
Agnieszka Pokora, Sławomir Kiciak, Krzysztof Tomasiewicz, Andriy Bazylevych, Oksana Hdyrya
Keywords
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