Role of imaging techniques in clinical research and practice on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Main Author: WANG Yi
• Format: Article
• Language: zho
• Published: Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2017-12-01
• Series: Linchuang Gandanbing Zazhi
• Subjects: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; ultrasonography; tomography; spiral computed; magnetic resonance imaging
• Online Access: http://www.lcgdbzz.org/qk_content.asp?id=8615

Abdominal ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used in the clinical diagnosis and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This article elaborates on the advantages and limitations of US, CT, and MRI in the evaluation of NAFLD. Compared with conventional imaging examinations, multi-parametric quantitative MRI allows for comprehensive and objective evaluation of NAFLD. Proton density fat fraction (PDFF) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of fatty liver disease and has been applied in clinical research. Independent clinical studies in adults and children have confirmed the practicability, reliability, and transformative quality of PDFF using various MRI scanning systems and software. Magnetic resonance elastography is used to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis and is not affected by hepatic steatosis. In patients with NAFLD, MRI can measure hepatic fat deposition and fibrosis in a single examination and, to a certain degree, it can replace liver biopsy.