Performance of FibroScan in grading steatosis and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A meta-analysis

Objective: Biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). To investigate the diagnostic value of FibroScan based on biopsy and range of cut-offs for steatosis and fibrosis, we explored the grade of steatosis and fibrosis. Method: A simultaneous search was performed on cohort studies published earlier than October 8, 2020,in the PubMed, Web of Science, Sinomed, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang databases. Next,we screened qualified studies. The data were mainly analysed in RevMan and complemented in STATA. Results: The area under the receiver operating characteristic of FibroScan in identifying the stage of steatosis for ≥ S1 was 0.90 (sensitivity:89%; specificity:92%), that for ≥ S2 was 0.82 (sensitivity:89%;specificity:70%) and that for S3 was 0.79 (sensitivity:83%; specificity:63%).The area under the receiver operating characteristic of FibroScan in identifying the stage of fibrosis for ≥ F1 was 0.86 (sensitivity:81%;specificity:77%),that for ≥ F2 was 0.80 (sensitivity: 75%; specificity:82%), that for ≥ F3 was 0.94 (sensitivity:87%; specificity: 89%) and that for F4 was 0.97 (sensitivity: 94%; specificity:91%). Conclusion: FibroScan, a promising and cost-effective technique, can provide an accurate noninvasive approach for quantifying and staging hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in NAFLD, particularly for advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between steatosis and fibrosis based on the same group. Additionally, NASH is the key stage of NAFLD. Early diagnosis and intervention can help reduce the incidence of liver cirrhosis. However, no large study has investigated the significance of FibroScan in the diagnosis of NASH confirmed by pathology.