Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease often diagnosed through invasive biopsy and traditional biomarkers. Shear wave elastography (SWE) presents a non-invasive alternative, potentially offering more immediate diagnostic information. Aims: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of SWE with traditional biomarkers in identifying liver cirrhosis. Methods: A total of 180 patients suspected of liver cirrhosis were recruited and assessed using both traditional biomarkers (liver function tests, platelet count, and albumin levels) and SWE. The diagnostic outcomes were compared against the results of liver biopsy, considered the gold standard. Results: SWE demonstrated a higher sensitivity and specificity (92% and 89%, respectively) compared to traditional biomarkers (85% sensitivity and 75% specificity). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for SWE was 0.94, indicating superior diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: SWE appears to be a more accurate and non-invasive diagnostic tool compared to traditional biomarkers for liver cirrhosis. Its implementation in clinical practice could reduce the need for invasive liver biopsies.

Description