Multiparametric Ultrasound Techniques for Liver Disease Assessments
A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Nuclear Medicine & Radiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 54
Special Issue Editor
Interests: ultrasound; multiparametric ultrasound; hepatic ultrasound; contrast-enhanced ultra-sound; diffuse hepatic diseases; focal liver lesions; hepatic elastography; liver stiffness; hepatic endosonography; hepatic EUS
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
It is vital to share insights into various ultrasound techniques—such as conventional ultrasound, color and power Doppler, pulsed Doppler, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, elastosonography, and echoendoscopic ultrasound—used in evaluating pathologies that impact the liver and the splanchnic system (and particularly the spleen). The liver is central to metabolic processes and serves as a crucial secondary target in oncological diseases, with its consistency affected by both liver disorders and other conditions, such as those related to the heart and hematopoietic system.
Ultrasound is a non-invasive, safe, and effective method for evaluating common liver and bile duct conditions, including fibrosis, steatosis, and focal lesions. Multiparametric ultrasound (M-US) techniques include conventional sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, elastography, and endoscopic ultrasound, which serve as essential tools for clinicians.
Currently, invasive methods like liver biopsy and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurements are the gold standards for assessing the severity of fibrosis and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), but their invasiveness limits their widespread use. Noninvasive alternatives, such as tissue elastography, are emerging as valuable tools. Techniques like magnetic resonance elastography, shear-wave elastography, and vibration-controlled transient elastography measure liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS), which correlate well with the HVPG. A LS >20-25 kPa and SS >40-45 kPa are indicative of CSPH. SS, in particular, is highlighted as a superior dynamic marker for monitoring the severity of portal hypertension and treatment responses, offering potential as a surrogate for clinical outcomes in trials. Given the multidisciplinary approach to liver diseases used in clinical practice, our ultrasound evaluations must adopt a multiparametric perspective, assessing diverse parameters including parenchymal, vascular, and consistency factors.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the diagnostic potential of M-US in liver diseases and conditions where the liver is a key focus. Clinicians must be aware of the capabilities and limitations of multiparametric liver ultrasound to effectively integrate these techniques into their practice.
We encourage authors to introduce clinical topics by discussing the use, advantages, and limitations of ultrasound, grounded in the latest evidence-based medicine. Each article should provide an up-to-date review, offering readers a holistic perspective on its clinical applications.
Contributions to this Special Issue will enhance the ongoing dialogue regarding the role of multiparametric ultrasound in managing liver diseases. We invite all interested contributors to participate and share their unique perspectives, acknowledging that ultrasound utilization in liver diseases transcends hepatology and impacts the daily work of many healthcare providers.
A comprehensive understanding of multiparametric ultrasound can only be achieved through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach.
Dr. Francesco Giangregorio
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- ultrasound
- multiparametric ultrasound
- hepatic ultrasound
- contrast-enhanced ultrasound
- contrast agents
- diffuse hepatic diseases
- focal liver lesions
- hepatic elastography
- liver stiffness
- hepatic endosonography
- hepatic EUS
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
