Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2014; 20(45): 16820-16830
Published online Dec 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.16820
Non-invasive diagnosis of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis
Suraj Sharma, Korosh Khalili, Geoffrey Christopher Nguyen
Suraj Sharma, Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
Korosh Khalili, Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
Geoffrey Christopher Nguyen, Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Health Complex, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
Author contributions: Sharma S, Khalili K and Nguyen GC contributed to the research and drafting of the manuscript, and editing to its current form.
Correspondence to: Geoffrey Christopher Nguyen, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Health Complex, Mount Sinai Hospital, 437-600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada. geoff.nguyen@utoronto.ca
Telephone: +1-416-5864800 Fax: +1-416-5865971
Received: May 29, 2014
Revised: August 23, 2014
Accepted: October 14, 2014
Published online: December 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: There has been considerable research in recent years towards the development of non-invasive markers of cirrhosis. These include novel radiologic techniques, serum biomarkers and panels of fibrosis. In this review, we outline the current state of knowledge on the most commonly used radiologic and serum biomarkers of cirrhosis. The pathophysiologic principles behind the use of these markers are discussed. In addition, we focus on the evidence behind the use of these markers, and highlight their performance characteristics. This review is intended to provide an overview of the current knowledge in this area, and to encapsulate the evidence for the reader.