| Summary: | 1. Examining the liver using transient elastography is simpler, less risky and less painful than taking a tissue sample: liver biopsy. However the method is not equally sensitive or specific, and therefore leads to somewhat more frequent false alarms and missed cases than tissue sampling. This applies to liver disease caused by hepatitis C, hepatitis B and fatty degeneration of the liver due to alcohol. No definite conclusions can be drawn regarding the applicability of the method with non-alcohol-related fatty degeneration of the liver.2. If we disregard that the method is not as sensitive or specific, annual examinations using transient elastography appear to be a cheaper and less painful alternative to a liver biopsy performed every three years. To be able to calculate the method's cost effectiveness, the costs of the examination must be considered in relation to how the accuracy of the method affects survival, quality of life and future health care costs
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