This white paper discusses the importance of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for liver steatosis and liver fibrosis screening in health programs. The clinical significance of diagnosing fatty liver disease is increasing with the rising prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Early identification of patients in the “at risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)” stage allows for systematic and quantitative management of fatty liver.
Unlike Fibroscan, Samsung’s ultrasound devices can perform both basic abdominal ultrasound exams and additional tests such as quantitative ultrasound for liver steatosis (QUS – TAI™, TSI™) and liver fibrosis (S-Shearwave Imaging™). Based on experience at Samsung Medical Center, these technologies accurately quantify intrahepatic fat deposition and detect fibrosis.
MASLD is characterized by excess triglyceride accumulation in the liver with cardiometabolic risk factors. It can progress from simple steatosis to inflammation, fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis. Healthcare providers should screen individuals with type 2 diabetes, abdominal obesity with additional metabolic risk factors, or abnormal liver function tests.
The Samsung Medical Center Health screening program includes liver precision ultrasound that provides quantitative fatty liver fraction values automatically, showing fat fraction percentages similar to MRI-PDFF. Cut-off tables derived from clinical research at Samsung Medical Center help classify steatosis grades (S1, S2, S3) and fibrosis grades (F0-F1, F2, F3).
Recommended follow-up protocols include annual examinations for S3 classified patients regardless of metabolic dysfunction factors. Patients with advanced fibrosis (F3, ≥7.55 kPa) should be referred to outpatient care. This systematic screening approach using quantitative ultrasound could significantly reduce individual medical expenses and stabilize health insurance finances while combating the growing prevalence of MASLD worldwide.
To learn more about how QUS technology supports liver disease screening, explore the QUS Quick Overview.
