Spleen stiffness measurement using fibroscan for the noninvasive assessment of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis patients

Abstract

Spleen stiffness can be assessed using transient elastography, its value increasing as the liver disease progresses. In liver cirrhosis patients spleen stiffness can predict the presence, but not the grade of esophageal varices. Esophageal varices' presence can be better predicted if both spleen and liver stiffness measurements are used.