Utility of Splenic Elastography as a Predictor of Increased Portal Pressure in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Elastography is a relatively new diagnostic method used to evaluate the stiffness of soft tissues. Its use is based on the conclusion that tissue with pathological changes tends to be harder and less elastic than the tissue that surrounds them [1]. It is currently considered a promising tool in the last decade for the evaluation of patients with chronic liver disease [2]. Liver elastography is a widely used and accepted method to predict the severity and prognosis of the disease [3]. Liver elastography measures fibrosis and has been correlated with the portosystemic pressure gradient, which is also related to intrahepatic vascular resistance [3].