Progress in clinical studies of noninvasive early diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis

The progression of liver fibrosis directly affects treatment options and prognosis. Early diagnosis and classification of liver fibrosis and dynamic monitoring are clinically needed. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques can avoid or reduce liver biopsy to enable early identification of liver fibrosis and to dynamically monitor the progression of fibrosis. But various limitations have restricted its application. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques, such as liver transient elastography using the different probe mode, controlled attenuation parameter, spleen stiffness measurement, ultrasound- based transient elastography for the early prediction of hepatic fibrosis, and risk assessment of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma, have been applied in clinical studies. In order to better understand and apply these diagnostic models, the progress in clinical studies of noninvasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis, as well as the limitations, is reviewed.