Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis of cirrhotic portal hypertension by ultrasound elastography (2023 version)

Abstract

The population with cirrhosis in China is about 7 million, and portal hypertension is an important factor affecting the prognosis of these patients. The severity of portal hypertension determines the occurrence and development of liver related complications, such as ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy. In recent years, ultrasound elastography technology has been rapidly developed and widely applied in the field of liver diseases. Transient elastography, point shear wave elastography, and two-dimensional shear-wave elastography are all of great value for non-invasive evaluation of portal hypertension. However, there is currently no unified operating standard and reference threshold for evaluating cirrhotic portal hypertension using ultrasound elastography. Therefore, Ultrasonic Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Chinese Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initialed and convened domestic experts from multiple disciplines, including ultrasound medicine, hepatology, gastroenterology, to form a consensus based on the latest domestic and international guidelines, medical evidence, and Chinese clinical practice. The aim is to standardize the examination process of different ultrasound elastography techniques, and standardize the application of liver stiffness and spleen stiffness in compensated advanced chronic liver disease, clinically significant portal hypertension, avoidance of endoscopic screening, risk stratification of portal hypertension, and personalized clinical management.