Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01234-x (2020)

Reviewer’ s report
Title: Magnetic resonance elastography in staging liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease: A pooled analysis of the diagnostic accuracy
Version: 0Date: 08 Feb 2020
Reviewer: Atsushi Nakajima
Reviewer's report:
These results of experiments would give us useful information about the accuracy of MRE in
staging of liver fibrosis in NAFLD. This study is very interesting. However, this manuscriptshould be written in more detail. Minor comments are as follows. 1. The threshold of MRE forstaging fibrosis from F1 to F4 (F≥1 group: 1.77-5.02Kpa, F≥2 group: 2.38-5.37Kpa, F≥3 group:2.43-5.97Kpa, F≥4 group: 2.74-6.7Kpa) is too wide. It is necessary to discuss this point. 2. Pleaseindicate in Table 1 what MRE was compared with (Biomarker, Fibroscan, SWE, etc). 3. Loombaet al indicated the efficacy of 3D-MRE for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in 2016. It should belisted separately. 4. How about the association between the stiffness of MRE and pathologicalfindings including steatosis, inflammation, and ballooning?5. If the skin-capsule distance (SCD)was evaluated in each manuscript, please indicate it.
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
YesAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statisticsQuality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Acceptable
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