Transient elastography (FibroScan(®)) with controlled attenuation parameter in the assessment of liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease - Where do we stand?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Currently, the routinely used modalities are unable to adequately determine the levels of steatosis and fibrosis (laboratory tests and ultrasonography) or cannot be applied as a screening procedure (liver biopsy). Among the non-invasive tests, transient elastography (FibroScan(®), TE) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) has demonstrated good accuracy in quantifying the levels of liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD, the factors associated with the diagnosis and NAFLD progression. The method is fast, reliable and reproducible, with good intra- and interobserver levels of agreement, thus allowing for population-wide screening and disease follow-up. The initial inability of the procedure to accurately determine fibrosis and steatosis in obese patients has been addressed with the development of the obese-specific XL probe. TE with CAP is a viable alternative to ultrasonography, both as an initial assessment and during follow-up of patients with NAFLD. Its ability to exclude patients with advanced fibrosis may be used to identify low-risk NAFLD patients in whom liver biopsy is not needed, therefore reducing the risk of complications and the financial costs.
Ivana Mikolasevic, Neven Franjic, Goran Hauser, Davor Stimac, Sandra Milic, Department of Gastroenterology, UHC Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Ivana
I
Mikolasevic
Ivana Mikolasevic, Neven Franjic, Goran Hauser, Davor Stimac, Sandra Milic, Department of Gastroenterology, UHC Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Lidija
L
Orlic
Ivana Mikolasevic, Neven Franjic, Goran Hauser, Davor Stimac, Sandra Milic, Department of Gastroenterology, UHC Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Neven
N
Franjic
Ivana Mikolasevic, Neven Franjic, Goran Hauser, Davor Stimac, Sandra Milic, Department of Gastroenterology, UHC Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Goran
G
Hauser
Ivana Mikolasevic, Neven Franjic, Goran Hauser, Davor Stimac, Sandra Milic, Department of Gastroenterology, UHC Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Davor
D
Stimac
Ivana Mikolasevic, Neven Franjic, Goran Hauser, Davor Stimac, Sandra Milic, Department of Gastroenterology, UHC Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
Sandra
S
Milic
D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications
Controlled attenuation parameter; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Transient elastography