Research progress of ultrasound elastography in diagnosis of liver fibrosis

Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of liver fibrosis,but it has limitations.The sensitivity and specificity of biochemical markers and imaging examinations are low.As an emerging noninvasive testing mean,ultrasound elastography has been gradually applied in the quantitative diagnosis of liver fibrosis and evaluation of the degree of liver fibrosis through measuring the liver elastic.In this article,the principle of ultrasound elastography,the characteristics of real-time ultrasound elastography,fibroscan and acoustic radiation force impulse were introduced.Besides,the clinical application and research progress,as well as their advantages and disadvantages in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis were demonstrated,and the development trend of ultrasound elastography in diagnosis of liver fibrosis were summarized.