Abstract
The evaluation of liver fibrosis is critical, particularly to rule out cirrhosis. Novel non-invasive tests such as transient ultrasound elastography are widely used to stage liver fibrosis as an alternative to liver biopsy, and this technology has recently been approved in the US. In this review, we discuss the performance characteristics of elastography for a variety of liver diseases and highlight practical appropriate suggestions for how to incorporate this technology into clinical practice.
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Nezam Afdhal has received research support from Merck, Glaxo Smith Kline, Vertex, Gilead, Abbott and BMS. Nezam Afdhal is a consultant/advisory board member for Merck, Gilead, Echosens, Glaxo Smith Kline, Vertex, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ligand, Springbank, Medgenics and Kadmon. Afdhal has stock options in Springbank and Medgenics, and is Editor for the Journal of Viral Hepatitis. Alan Bonder has no conflicts of interest.
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Bonder, A., Afdhal, N. Utilization of FibroScan in Clinical Practice. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 16, 372 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-014-0372-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-014-0372-6