Evaluation of Stage of Liver Fibrosis by Ultrasonography: Based on Pathologic Results of Biopsy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of routine liver ultrasonography on the basis of the scoring system according to the morphological parameters of liver ultrasound images and the histopathological results of liver biopsy. The morphological parameters of the liver through ultrasonography were divided into liver surface, liver edge and liver parenchyma. Pathologic results of liver biopsy were classified as mild fibrosis(F1), significant fibrosis(F2), severe fibrosis(F3), and cirrhosis(F4). In conclusion, routine ultrasound examination showed a sensitive predictive factor for fibrosis with mild fibrosis (F1) to severe fibrosis (F3) were liver edge>liver parenchyma>liver surface. However, the predictive factors for detecting cirrhosis (F4) were liver parenchyma>liver surface>liver edge. The use of three variable combinations rather than individual variables in routine ultrasonography may be useful in evaluating the degree and progress of liver fibrosis.