Endosonographic Shear Wave Elastography to Assess Liver and Splenic Fibrosis

The patient will undergo a standard-of-care endoscopic ultrasound with liver biopsy. At the time, elastography of the liver and spleen will be performed while using the echoendoscope. Different degrees of pressure will be applied while performing elastography of the left and right lobes of the liver as well as the spleen. The E values and VsN values will be recorded and then compared to liver histology.

The patient will undergo an upper endoscopic ultrasound procedure. During this procedure, the patient will be put to sleep and a trained endosonographer physician will insert an echo-endoscope through the mouth and guide it down to the stomach and the duodenum. This endoscope is equipped with technology that uses sound waves to assess the stiffness of the liver and spleen. For research purposes, the doctor will also press on these organs in order to take the additional measurements.