Diagnostic Deserts: National Gaps in Screening and Care Infrastructure for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to identify nationwide access to transient elastography (TE), magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and gastroenterologists. METHODS: We used public data from each test's manufacturer's website to identify the number of TE and MRE units in the United States. We used public data from the Health Resources & Services Administration to identify the number of gastroenterologists in the U.S. RESULTS: 82.4% of U.S. counties do not contain TE or MRE, and 69.2% do not contain a gastroenterologist . Two-thirds (67.4%) of U.S. counties do not contain either elastography or a gastroenterologist. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited access to TE, MRE, and gastroenterologists in the United States.