Elastographic Measures: A Methodological Approach

The measurement of liver stiffness by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE, also known as transient elastography TE) has proved to be an accurate test for the diagnosis and staging of liver disease, and it has been widely adopted and has allowed to spare the use of such an invasive test as liver biopsy. Looking at its history, we hereby present the different phases of the development of a new diagnostic test, from bench to bedside, outlining and discussing the proper approaches to the different questions and the methodological problems.