INTRODUCTION

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately one-third of the global population, presenting a major public health concern due to its potential progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The invasive and costly nature of liver biopsies, the current gold standard for diagnosing NAFLD, limits their widespread use. Consequently, there is an imperative need for more accessible and less invasive diagnostic tools.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of combining steatometry, Shear Wave Dispersion (SWD), and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) in the non-invasive detection of significant steatohepatitis in patients, identifying those at elevated risk of NAFLD progression.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records from 30 patients with indications of NAFLD based on conventional ultrasound findings. This study was carried out at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Presidential Administration from 2022 to 2023. All subjects underwent a multiparametric ultrasound, encompassing steatometry, SWD assessment, and two-dimensional SWE.

RESULTS

The multiparametric ultrasound effectively quantified steatosis levels, inflammation activity, and fibrosis extent. However, these parameters demonstrated weak correlations with laboratory markers for fibrosis and inflammation, suggesting potential for earlier detection of liver changes prior to active cytolysis syndrome onset.

CONCLUSION

Multiparametric ultrasound emerges as a promising non-invasive technique for enhancing NAFLD and NASH diagnosis, particularly for patients unable to undergo liver biopsies. Further studies are required to refine this method and validate its efficacy in a broader and more diverse cohort.