A systematic review depicted that through magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI PDFF), MRI can determine the stiffness of the liver and detect steatosis respectively. The goal of investigators was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of elastography and ultrasonography in people with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Using databases such as Google Scholar, Cochrane, Pubmed Central, and Pubmed, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, a systematic search was conducted.  Comparative studies, randomized controlled trials, observational studies, studies using MRI PDFF or liver biopsy as a reference standard, ultrasonography, and elastography with estimates of their diagnostic accuracy like area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, specificity, sensitivity were included.

On a predetermined template, the extraction of data was done. Utilizing quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy tool (QUADS-2), the final 12 eligible studies were evaluated. The majority of research examined elastography methods, while the remainder examined quantitative ultrasonography techniques including attenuation coefficient and controlled attenuation parameter. For the assessment of qualitative ultrasonography, just one trial was available. For identifying steatosis using MRI PDFF and liver stiffness with MRE, MRI was typically shown to be superior to alternative diagnostic procedures. Data determining the comparative diagnostic precision of the two tests were not conclusive.