VCTE Overestimates Liver Fibrosis due to Abdominal–Truncal Adiposity and Not Hepatic Steatosis: A Case Report

Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is used for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis. We present a case of significant weight loss over 1 year, resulting in a marked improvement in liver stiffness suggesting a decrease in liver fibrosis from stage 4 (cirrhosis) to stage 2 (mod...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jordan S. Woodard, Jena Velji-Ibrahim, Jay Alden, Gary A. Abrams
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/7938701
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Summary:Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is used for the noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis. We present a case of significant weight loss over 1 year, resulting in a marked improvement in liver stiffness suggesting a decrease in liver fibrosis from stage 4 (cirrhosis) to stage 2 (moderate fibrosis) notably without a change in the grade of hepatic steatosis. The improvement in two stages of fibrosis over this short time frame is due to the overestimation of liver stiffness in a subject with class 3 obesity and not due to the resolution of fibrosis. Therefore, this case highlights that BMI, due to excess subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue and not intrahepatic lipid accumulation, can cause a significant overestimation of liver fibrosis with VCTE.
ISSN:2090-6536