Liver echogenicity: measurement or visual grading?
OBJECTIVE
Two methods to assess liver echogenicity were compared.


METHODS
Liver/kidney echogenicity ratio was measured in 41 persons with the ultrasound software and visually graded by two radiologists and a radiographer. These echogenicity ratios and grades were related to risk factors for fatty liver and to liver enzyme levels.


RESULTS
These determinants explained 55% of the radiologists' mean grades, 14% of the radiographer's and 31% of the measured echogenicity ratios.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiologists' visual gradings correlated best with the indirect determinants of early liver pathology. Computerized measurements may be inferior to visual grading due to the lack of holistic tissue diagnostics.
Vehmas
Tapio
T
The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland. tapio.vehmas@ttl.fi
Kaukiainen
Ari
A
Luoma
Katariina
K
Lohman
Martina
M
Nurminen
Markku
M
Taskinen
Helena
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography