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Theranostics 2020; 10(9):4277-4289. doi:10.7150/thno.40249 This issue Cite

Review

Quantitative ultrasound approaches for diagnosis and monitoring hepatic steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Amir M. Pirmoazen¹, Aman Khurana², Ahmed El Kaffas³, Aya Kamaya^1✉

1. Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
2. Department of Radiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
3. Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California

✉ Corresponding author: Aya Kamaya, MD, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive H1307, Stanford, California 94305; Phone: (650) 723-8463; Fax: (650) 723-1909; Email: kamayaedu

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a major global health concern with increasing prevalence, associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Recently, quantitative ultrasound-based imaging techniques have dramatically improved the ability of ultrasound to detect and quantify hepatic steatosis. These newer ultrasound techniques possess many inherent advantages similar to conventional ultrasound such as universal availability, real-time capability, and relatively low cost along with quantitative rather than a qualitative assessment of liver fat. In addition, quantitative ultrasound-based imaging techniques are less operator dependent than traditional ultrasound. Here we review several different emerging quantitative ultrasound-based approaches used for detection and quantification of hepatic steatosis in patients at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We also briefly summarize other clinically available imaging modalities for evaluating hepatic steatosis such as MRI, CT, and serum analysis.

Keywords: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, quantitative ultrasound, noninvasive assessment, hepatic steatosis

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