Elastography in Focal Liver Lesions

The accurate characterization and the differential diagnosis between different types of focal liver lesions (FLL) are important aims that all imaging modalities available today should satisfy. Elastographic methods aim to exploit the elasticity differences between FLL and liver parenchyma in order to make the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign lesions. Currently, three elastographic methods have been evaluated and showed their applicability in this area: Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastography, Real-time Elastography (RTE) and Shear Waves Elastography (SWE). Many studies have shown that using one of the elastographic methods, for a chosen cut-off, the differentiation between malignant and benign nodules is possible. Other studies demonstrated that elastographic techniques are helpful to detect recurring hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), or to evaluate HCC or liver metastases after local or systemic treatment.

Keywords: Benign or malignant, Elastography, Focal liver lesions.