Objective: The purpose of the article is to review the diagnostic performance of ultra-sound and MR elastography techniques for detection and staging of liver fibrosis, the main current clinical applications of elastography in the abdomen.
Conclusion: Technical and instrument-related factors and biologic and patient-related factors may constitute potential confounders of stiffness measurements for assessment of liver fibrosis. Future developments may expand the scope of elastography for monitoring liver fibrosis and predict complications of chronic liver disease.
Keywords: MR elastography (MRE); MRI; elasticity; elastography; liver fibrosis; ultrasound; viscosity.