[Advances and challenges in new technologies for imaging evaluation of liver fibrosis]

Liver fibrosis is a common pathological process in various chronic liver diseases. Early-stage and accurate diagnosis, as well as assessment of the degree of liver fibrosis, is crucial for the management of chronic liver diseases. Conventional imaging techniques for liver fibrosis (elastography and magnetic resonance elastography) still have the drawback of low sensitivity in detecting early-stage fibrosis. In recent years, emerging imaging omics based on ultrasound and magnetic resonance have improved the diagnostic accuracy and visualization stage of liver fibrosis. The emergence of artificial intelligence technology has also provided more options for the technological advancement of liver fibrosis imaging. This article aims to review the emerging liver fibrosis imaging technologies in recent years and compare their diagnostic performance with ultrasound elastography, shear wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography recommended by the current domestic and international guidelines and to pinpoint simultaneously the limitations and challenges that still exist in liver fibrosis imaging while reflecting the technological advances.