Diagnostic Accuracy of 2-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography for the Staging of Liver Fibrosis: A Meta-analysis

Objectives: To evaluate the overall accuracy of 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (SWE) for the staging of liver fibrosis.

Methods: Literature databases and conference abstracts were searched from 2000 to September 2017. Sensitivity, specificity, and other information were extracted from the included studies. Methodological quality was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tools. Data were synthesized by a bivariate hierarchical model.

Results: The summary sensitivity and specificity were 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.89) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72-0.85) for fibrosis stage F≥2, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87-0.93) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.80-0.89) for F≥3, and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.84-0.93) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89-0.95) for F=4, respectively. The areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve for F≥2, F≥3, and F=4 was 0.81, 0.77, and 0.84.

Conclusions: Two-dimensional SWE is a good noninvasive method for the diagnosis of substantial liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to assess severe fibrosis and to perform head-to-head comparisons of 2-dimensional SWE and other imaging modalities for the evaluation of liver fibrosis.