Fibroscan is a non-invasive medical imaging technique used in metabolic clinical research to assess liver health by measuring liver stiffness. It employs transient elastography to detect liver fibrosis, aiding in the evaluation and monitoring of metabolic disorders such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic syndrome.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Combined PET and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is an imaging technique used to quantify and visualize functional aspects of metabolism, such as the activity and regional distribution of brown adipose tissue. Isotope-labeled biological substances are metabolized as part of normal physiological processes. PET scanning is then used to quantify these metabolic processes.

Dual-energy Absorptiometry (DEXA) is used to assess body composition, total body fat, and breakdown of bone mineral density, fat tissue, and muscle by X-ray technology.

Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive technique to assess the biomechanical properties of tissues through images of sound wave propagation. The readout is used to quantify and categorize stages of liver stiffness and fibrosis.

Contrast-Enhanced MRI (CE MRI) is typically used to detect and assess liver masses and lesions and can also be used to assess and visualize liver tissue function. Gadolinium-based chelated agents (GBCA) and non-GBCA, such as reticuloendothelial and hepatobiliary agents, can also be used to assess and visualize liver tissue function. The readout can potentially serve as a surrogate biomarker of active inflammatory or fibrotic processes.

Corrected T1 (cT1)-Weighted MRI is another method that can be utilized to identify and characterize inflammatory or fibrotic processes at an organ or tissue level.

Diffusion-Weighted MRI (DW-MRI) is a method that can be utilized to investigate the microarchitecture and functional aspects of tissues, for example, to arrive at conclusions of active inflammatory processes.

MRI and MRI-Estimated Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) are methods to assess whole body, regional and organ-specific composition, such as liver fat content. They are particularly useful to characterize features of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).