The accurate characterization and the differential diagnosis between different
types of focal liver lesions (FLL) are important aims that all the imaging modalities
available today should satisfy. Elastographic methods aim to exploit the elasticity
differences between FLL and liver parenchyma in order to make the differential
diagnosis between malignant and benign lesions. Currently, three elastographic methods
have been evaluated and showed their applicability in this area: Acoustic Radiation
Force Impulse (ARFI) Elastography, Real-time Elastography (RT-E) and Shear Wave
Elastography (SWE). Many studies showed that using one of the elastographic methods,
for a chosen cut-off, the differentiation between malignant and benign nodules is
possible. Other studies demonstrated that elastographic techniques are helpful to detect
recurring hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), or to evaluate HCC or liver metastases
after local or systemic treatment.
Keywords: Focal liver lesions, benign or malignant, elastography.