In this episode, we look at the need for cheap, accurate screening tools for common diseases. To that end, we take the example of fatty liver disease. We review the "gold standard" diagnostic tool, liver biopsy, and why that shouldn't be the first line of detection for a fatty liver. We review some standard methods of screening before diving into transient elastography, also known as FibroScan. We look at what this method is, why it may be preferable to an MRI or CT scan, and how clinical researchers use transient elastography in trials.

References:

• Hass Avocado Board. Avocado Quality Manual: A Guide to Best Practices for Each Step of the Supply Chain [Internet]. Available from: https://hassavocadoboard.com/avocado-quality-manual/
• Benton Lowey-Ball. Avocad-Ode. In: Allpoetry. 2026.Available from https://allpoetry.com/poem/19042255-Avocad-Ode-by-Benton2
• Kalra A, Yetiskul E, Wehrle CJ, Tuma F. Physiology, liver. InStatPearls [internet] 2023 May 1. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535438/
• Wong VW, Ekstedt M, Wong GL, Hagström H. Changing epidemiology, global trends and implications for outcomes of NAFLD. Journal of hepatology. 2023 Sep 1;79(3):842-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2023.04.036
• Troelstra MA, Witjes JJ, van Dijk AM, Mak AL, Gurney‐Champion O, Runge JH, Zwirs D, Stols‐Gonçalves D, Zwinderman AH, Ten Wolde M, Monajemi H. Assessment of imaging modalities against liver biopsy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: The Amsterdam NAFLD‐NASH cohort. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2021 Dec;54(6):1937-49. https://doil.org/10.1002/jmri.27703
• Rinaldi L, Giorgione C, Mormone A, Esposito F, Rinaldi M, Berretta M, Marfella R, Romano C. Non-invasive measurement of hepatic fibrosis by transient elastography: a narrative review. Viruses. 2023 Aug 13;15(8):1730. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15081730
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