On the Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Using Dielectric Properties: Feasibility in Mouse Model

Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular cancer. Currently, liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, but it is invasive and risky. Therefore, there is a need for non-invasive diagnostic tools. Recent studies have shown that microwaves and dielectric spectroscopy can differentiate between healthy and diseased liver tissue and can provide information on the severity of NASH. In this study, we used ex vivo NASH mouse model tissues to diagnose NASH using dielectric spectroscopy, a non-invasive technique. According to our study results, the novelty of the study lies in differentiating the various NASH diseased tissue and analyzing them using cole-cole parameters, suggesting the potential development of a noninvasive diagnostic and treatment monitoring tool for NASH. If successful, the use of microwaves could revolutionize the field of NASH diagnosis and monitoring, providing a safer and more convenient alternative to liver biopsy. However, additional research is required to validate this approach and optimize its sensitivity and specificity.