SINGAPORE — Oct. 16, 2026 — A systematic review published in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology compares the diagnostic performance of various imaging-based modalities and scores for identifying at-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Shyna Zhuoying Gunalan and colleagues at the National University of Singapore evaluated 20 studies encompassing 9,480 participants to assess how effectively these technologies can rule in (TRI) and rule out (TRO) at-risk MASH.
FAST Score Shows Highest Sensitivity for Ruling Out Disease
The analysis revealed that the FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score achieved the highest sensitivity for ruling out at-risk MASH, showing moderate specificity alongside superior performance in head-to-head sensitivity analyses.
Study authors noted that the FAST score may present the most practical solution for widespread clinical implementation due to its accessibility and lower cost relative to other diagnostic methods. At the same time, magnetic resonance-based technologies demonstrated strong evidence supporting their use in identifying at-risk MASH.
Several study authors disclosed financial relationships with the biopharmaceutical industry.