1797 – Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE™) for identifying advanced fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease

New Medicare Benefits Schedule item.

Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE™), is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that assesses the extent of liver fibrosis. VCTE™ works by generating a mechanical pulse that creates a shear wave through the liver tissue. This measurement is converted into a numerical value expressed in kilopascals (kPa), known as the Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM).

Type: Investigative

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD) is a prevalent condition characterised by excessive fat accumulation in the liver due to metabolic dysregulation. It requires hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) along with at least one of the following: overweight/obesity, T2D, or metabolic dysfunction (defined by specific clinical and biochemical criteria). As fat continues to accumulate, MAFLD can progress from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, characterised by inflammation and liver cell damage. Persistent inflammation and liver cell damage can lead to the activation of hepatic stellate cells, which produce excess extracellular matrix proteins, resulting in fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is staged by its severity on a scale from zero (no fibrosis) to one (mild fibrosis), two (significant fibrosis), three (advanced fibrosis, AF) and four (cirrhosis).

The following consultation deadlines apply:

• Pre-PASC consultation deadline: 14 March 2025
• Pre-MSAC consultation deadline: -

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This application will be considered at the following meetings:

• PASC meeting: 16 to 17 April 2025
• ESC meeting: -
• MSAC meeting: -

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The outcome of this application is pending.

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