Current role of transient elastography in the management of chronic hepatitis B patients

Liver fibrosis is an important prognostic factor for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and accurate evaluation of the stage of liver fibrosis is crucial in establishing management strategies. While liver biopsy is still considered the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, transient elastog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ultrasonography (Seoul, Korea) 2017, 36(2), , pp.86-94
Main Authors: Yu, Jung Hwan, Lee, Jung Il
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Antigens
Biopsy
Chronic hepatitis B
Elastography
Hepatitis B
Infections
Inflammation
Liver cirrhosis
Liver diseases
Review
방사선과학
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Summary:Liver fibrosis is an important prognostic factor for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and accurate evaluation of the stage of liver fibrosis is crucial in establishing management strategies. While liver biopsy is still considered the gold standard for staging liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, transient elastography (TE), a noninvasive means of assessing liver fibrosis, has come to play an increasing role in this process. After extensive validation, TE is now regarded as a reliable surrogate maker for grading the severity of liver fibrosis in CHB patients. It can detect the extent of fibrosis in a patient and can also be used to evaluate longitudinal changes in liver fibrosis over time with or without interventional management, such as antiviral therapy. However, several confounders hinder the effective assessment of liver fibrosis using TE, such as extensive liver necroinflammation, hepatic congestion, and cholestasis. TE has limited use in obese patients or patients with ascites. Although TE has several limitations, due to its accessibility and safety, it is a valuable tool for the initial evaluation and follow-up in patients with CHB.
ISSN:2288-5919
2288-5943
DOI:10.14366/usg.16023