Transient Elastography in Pediatric Liver Disease.

Abstract

Transient elastography is an imaging technique utilizing shear wave technology to measure liver stiffness. Recent studies have shown success in utilizing this technique in children. Transient elastography is useful in estimating degree of fibrosis in various pediatric liver diseases, including biliary atresia, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, Alagille syndrome, cystic fibrosis-related liver disease, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis among others. Confounding factors, however, may affect elastography measurements, such as obesity, severe inflammation, nonfasting state, and hepatic congestion, and should be considered whenever interpreting these measurements. Future studies will correlate liver stiffness on transient elastography and severity of disease.