What Is MR Elastography and Why Is It Replacing Liver Biopsy in India
Liver disease is quietly becoming one of India's most pressing public health concerns. From non-alcoholic fatty liver disease driven by rising obesity and diabetes rates, to chronic hepatitis B and C infections affecting millions across the country, the burden on liver health in India is substantial and growing. For decades, the standard method for assessing the severity of liver damage has been a liver biopsy, a procedure that involves inserting a needle into the liver to extract a small tissue sample for laboratory analysis. While effective, liver biopsy carries risks, causes patient discomfort, and is prone to sampling errors given that it examines less than one percent of the total liver volume. Today, a far more advanced and patient-friendly alternative is gaining rapid acceptance among hepatologists and gastroenterologists across India. That alternative is MR elastography . As medical imaging continues to evolve, MR elastography is emerging as one of the most significan...