Hepatic fibrosis is the accumulation of scar tissue in the liver resulting from chronic injury and inflammation. It represents the liver’s wound-healing response to ongoing damage from conditions such as chronic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and alcohol use. Progressive fibrosis eventually leads to cirrhosis. Traditional B-mode ultrasound has limited sensitivity for detecting fibrosis before it reaches the cirrhotic stage, but the development of elastography has transformed non-invasive fibrosis assessment. Shear wave elastography measures liver stiffness, which correlates with the degree of fibrosis, allowing clinicians to stage liver disease and monitor treatment response without the risks and limitations of liver biopsy.
Sonography Term