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The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. It is located in the upper right portion of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach. The liver supports many important bodily functions, including the storage of nutrients and digestion, as well as aiding the body’s immune system.

Liver disease can cause abdominal pain and swelling, swelling in the legs and ankles, chronic fatigue, and confusion, and can increase the risk of infection and cancer. Causes of liver disease include chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

If liver damage is detected early, the underlying cause may be treated effectively and sometimes the damage can be reversed.

Testing for liver disease

The standard test for liver fibrosis is a biopsy. A biopsy is performed by inserting a needle into a patient’s liver to take a sample of the tissue. However, there are new, less invasive and cost-effective options to check liver health.

Transient elastography is a non-invasive test that uses stiffness to determine whether or not a patient has liver fibrosis. Transient elastography can also be used to determine the severity of fibrosis.

A similar test called the controlled attenuation parameter uses ultrasound to determine whether a patient has hepatic steatosis.

Ontario Health reviewed the evidence to determine the accuracy of transient elastography and controlled attenuation parameter.