Quantitative Hepatic Fat Quantification in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Using Ultrasound-Based Techniques: A Review of Literature and Their Diagnostic Performance

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition that is characterized by the presence of >5% fat in the liver and affects more than one billion people worldwide. If adequate and early precautions are not taken, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis and death. The current reference standard for detecting hepatic steatosis is a liver biopsy. However, because of the potential morbidity associated with liver biopsies, non-invasive imaging biomarkers have been extensively investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging-based methods have proven accuracy in quantifying liver steatosis; however, these techniques are costly and have limited availability. Ultrasound-based quantitative imaging techniques are increasingly utilized because of their widespread availability, ease of use and relative cost-effectiveness. Several ultrasound-based liver fat quantification techniques have been investigated, including techniques that measure changes in the acoustic properties of the liver caused by the presence of fat. In this review, we focus on quantitative ultrasound approaches and their diagnostic performance in the realm of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Keywords: Attenuation; Backscatter; Controlled-attenuation parameter; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Quantitative; Speed of sound; Ultrasound.