Testing a new ultrasound method to detect liver scarring in people with obesity

This trial is testing a new ultrasound imaging method called endoscopic ultrasound shear wave elastography (EUS-SWE) to detect liver scarring in people with elevated body weight and fatty liver disease. The new technique works through the stomach using a thin ultrasound probe, which may work better in people with obesity than traditional ultrasound approaches. Researchers want to understand if this imaging method can accurately identify early-stage liver damage so doctors can intervene sooner.

Fatty liver disease is very common and can progress to more serious liver damage over time, but current methods to detect scarring are either risky (requiring a needle biopsy), expensive, or less accurate in people with obesity. This trial exists to see if the new ultrasound technique could provide a safer, more affordable, and more reliable way to screen for liver scarring in people who need it most.