Quantification of liver fat using ultrasound technology

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing concern worldwide, creating significant clinical and economic burdens. NAFLD has the potential to progress to advanced liver disease, which is associated with significant morbidity and related mortality. Research to address these challenges is ongoing and requires the use of reliable liver fat quantification tools to evaluate effectiveness. Magnetic resonance imaging has been established as a reference standard to replace liver biopsy (the traditional gold standard); however, cost and access limit its use in large patient groups. Recent advances in ultrasound-based liver fat quantification technology are promising, offering a more accessible, cost-effective method for estimating the quantity of liver fat. In this presentation, the authors outline how ultrasound attenuation and backscatter coefficients can be used to estimate liver fat percentage, discussing how this new tool has the potential to greatly impact the assessment and management of fatty liver disease.