title: Non-invasive evaluation of hepatic fibrosis for type C chronic hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate liver fibrosis using non-invasive Real-time Tissue Elastography (RTE) and transient elastography (FibroScan) methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  RTE, FibroScan and percutaneous liver biopsy were all performed on patients with chronic liver disease, particularly hepatitis C, to investigate liver fibrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FibroScan and RTE were compared for fibrous liver staging (F stage), which was pathologically classified using liver biopsy. In FibroScan, significant differences were observed between F1/F3 and F2/F4, but no such differences were observed between F1/F2, F2/F3 and F3/F4. In RTE, significant differences were observed between F1/F2, F2/F3 and F2/F4. But for F3/F4, no significant differences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FibroScan and RTE correlated well with F staging of the liver. In particular RTE was more successful than FibroScan in diagnosing the degree of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Kazuomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueshima
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitai
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yada
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Hobyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonomura
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitake
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiina
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index