Table 1.
Major advantages and limitations of noninvasive periportal fibrosis markers in Schistosomiasis mansoni infected patients
| Feature |
Liver biopsy
|
Serum markers |
Imaging techniques
|
|||
|
Wedged
|
Percutaneous
|
US
|
pSWE
|
TE
|
||
| Invasiveness | High | High | Minimal | None | None | None |
| Post-procedural risk | Possible | Possible | Minimal | None | None | None |
| Accuracy for PPF prediction | High | Low | Medium to high | High | Good | Good |
| Sensitivity | High | Low | Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
| Interpretation | Subjective | Subjective | Objective | Subjective | Objective | Objective |
| Observer variability | High | High | Low | High | Not yet evaluated | Not yet evaluated |
| Costs | High | Medium | Depends | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Limitations by anthropometric features | High | High | None | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Suitability for monitoring PPF | Low | Low | High | High | High | High |
PPF: Periportal fibrosis; pSWE: Point shear wave elastography; TE: Transient elastography; US: Ultrasound.