New NICE guidance supports the use of the device, Virtual Touch Quantification (VTq), in people with chronic hepatitis B or C who need liver fibrosis assessment. Using this device could mean these patients can avoid having a biopsy.
Liver fibrosis occurs when there is a lot of scar tissue in the liver, and makes the liver’s texture stiff. The scar tissue can result from damage to liver cells caused by infections such as chronic hepatitis B or C, inflammation and injury. VTq is a software application which assesses the stiffness of the liver based on readings of a high intensity ultrasound wave which is transmitted through the liver.
The wave travels at different speeds through liver tissue depending on whether the liver is flexible and healthy, or whether it is stiff due to fibrous scar tissue caused by damage. The device measures the speed of the sound waves to determine the condition of the liver tissue and allows the liver to be imaged at the same time.
The benefits of VTq include the procedure being painless and possibly safer than liver biopsy, and reduced costs: using VTq could save around £434 per patient compared with liver biopsy and around £53 per patient compared with transient elastography.
The guidance on the VTq device is available at http://www.nice.org.uk/mtg27.
