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Updated: May 1, 2026

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
05:56

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: August 29, 2025

705

Spleen stiffness measurement by transient elastography to diagnose portal hypertension in children

Imeke Goldschmidt1, Catharina Brauch, Thierry Poynard

  • 1*Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany †Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|April 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) using transient elastography (TE) is a feasible, noninvasive method to assess esophageal varices in children. This technique shows promise in evaluating liver disease complications and guiding clinical decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Esophageal varices are a serious complication of chronic liver disease in children.
  • Current diagnostic methods like endoscopy are invasive.
  • Noninvasive tools are needed to improve diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the feasibility of spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) by transient elastography (TE) in children.
  • To compare SSM's diagnostic utility with established markers of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension.
  • To evaluate SSM's ability to detect esophageal varices and predict complications.

Main Methods:

  • 99 children (62 with chronic liver disease, 6 post-transplant, 31 controls) underwent SSM by TE (FibroScan).
  • Other assessments included Fibrotest, liver stiffness measurement, and upper endoscopy in subsets of patients.
  • Spleen size and stiffness were correlated with clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • SSM by TE is feasible in children, with higher success rates in patients with splenomegaly.
  • Spleen stiffness was significantly elevated in patients with splenomegaly, varices, and a history of variceal hemorrhage.
  • Variceal hemorrhage was absent in patients with SSM <60 kPa; liver stiffness and Fibrotest did not correlate with varices.

Conclusions:

  • SSM by TE is a feasible method in pediatric patients.
  • Spleen stiffness measurements correlate with the presence and severity of esophageal varices and related complications.
  • Further prospective studies with larger cohorts are warranted to validate these findings.
Abstract

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