Transient elastography (FibroScan) for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis

Murtagh J, Foerster V
Record ID 32006000951
English
Authors' objectives: The aim of this report is to assess the available information on the use of transient elastography (FibroScan) for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis.
Authors' recommendations: Liver fibrosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The major cause is hepatitis C, which affects 240,000 Canadians. Assessing the degree of liver fibrosis is critical to its management. Liver biopsy, an invasive procedure, is considered to be the diagnostic gold standard. FibroScan is a rapid, non-invasive technology that uses low frequency vibration and ultrasound to assess the stiffness of liver tissue. The diagnostic performance of FibroScan is good for identifying severe fibrosis or cirrhosis, but it is less accurate for milder presentations. FibroScan is a promising technology, but large multi-centre trials comparing a range of emerging non-invasive fibrosis staging technologies are required.
Authors' methods: Overview
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2006
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Canada
MeSH Terms
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques
  • Biopsy
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Liver Function Tests
Contact
Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;
Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca
Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca
Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.