Hepatic fibrosis is a reversible intermediate link of chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis during the early stage

resulting from an imbalance between fibrolytic and fibrogenic processes. The clinical management and prognosis of hepatic fibrosis are highly dependent on the diagnosis and staging. Therefore

it is urgent to find accurate and non-invasive diagnostic methodology to assess the progress of hepatic fibrosis. With the rapid development of ultrasonic diagnostic technique

many ultrasound technologies such as conventional ultrasound

contrast enhanced ultrasound

real-time tissue elastography

transient elastography

point shear wave speed measurement elastography

shear wave speed imaging and so on have been wildly used in the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis with their significant advantages. Ultrasonic elastography especially shows great clinical value in the non-invasive diagnosis and staging of hepatic fibrosis. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and summarize the current status and progress on ultrasonic diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis

based on consulting abundant domestic and foreign literatures and reports.