THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ELASTOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS

Abstract

Ultrasound elastography has become one of the most informative and noninvasive techniques for assessing the structural and functional state of the liver. The morphological concept of this method is based on the evaluation of tissue stiffness, which reflects the degree of fibrosis and other pathological alterations of the hepatic parenchyma. Unlike conventional ultrasound, which primarily provides anatomical imaging, elastography offers a functional and morphological interpretation by quantifying the elastic properties of liver tissue. The correlation between elastographic parameters and histological stages of fibrosis has been well established, allowing for accurate differentiation between normal, inflammatory, and fibrotic changes. The method is particularly valuable in the early detection of subclinical fibrosis, long before the onset of clinical symptoms or biochemical abnormalities. By mapping stiffness distribution across the hepatic tissue, elastography also enables the visualization of heterogeneous fibrosis patterns, which are often observed in viral hepatitis, alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis.Morphologically, elastographic findings correspond to alterations in extracellular matrix composition, collagen deposition, and architectural remodeling of the hepatic lobules. These structural transformations determine the biomechanical properties of the liver and, therefore, the measured shear-wave velocity or strain ratio. Thus, ultrasound elastography represents a bridge between morphological assessment and functional evaluation, offering a precise, reproducible, and safe method for monitoring liver pathology progression and response to therapy.