Clinical Application of Liver Stiffness Measurement for Assessing the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

The most significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the presence of cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis of the liver. Liver biopsy was traditionally considered the gold standard for assessing the liver fibrosis burden. Recently, non-invasive methods, particularly transient elastography (TE), have proven effective at measuring fibrosis and determining cirrhosis. Clinical application of TE ranges from measuring fibrosis to predicting long-term prognosis and treatment response. Here, we focus on recent studies on the prognostic value of TE for predicting HCC.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

“… 30 In some studies, fatty liver was significantly associated with a lower HCC risk, 32 , 33 which was partly explained by the burn-out of hepatic steatosis during fibrosis progression. 33 Advanced liver fibrosis is a strong risk factor for HCC development, 10 , 34 and it is well known that steatosis disappears in more advanced cirrhosis. 35 In this study, participants with other chronic liver diseases comprised a heterogeneous population (including viral hepatitis and/or heavy alcohol intake) with different degrees of liver fibrosis.…”