Learning curve and interobserver reproducibility evaluation of liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography.
OBJECTIVE
Fibroscan allows liver stiffness examination (LSE) that is well correlated with fibrosis stages. Our main objective was to evaluate LSE learning curve.


METHODS
LSE results of five novice observers with different medical status were compared with those of five expert observers (physicians with >100 examinations) in 250 patients with chronic liver disease. Each novice-expert pair had to blindly examine 50 consecutive patients divided into five consecutive subgroups of 10 patients.


RESULTS
In each observer group, novice-expert agreement [intraclass correlation coefficient (Ric)] for LSE results was excellent from the first to the last subgroup. Novice-expert agreement for LSE results varied with liver stiffness level: <9 kPa: Ric=0.49; >or=9 kPa: Ric=0.87. Relative difference (%) between novice and expert LSE results was independently associated with the number of valid LSE measurements, and stabilizes around 20-30% after the fourth valid measurement. In each observer group, novice-expert agreement (Ric) for LSE success rate progressively increased as a function of time.


CONCLUSIONS
LSE requires no learning curve: a novice is able to obtain a reliable result after a single training session, whatever the professional status. However, success rate will progressively increase. An LSE with less than four valid measurements should not be considered as reliable.
Boursier
Jérôme
J
University of Angers, IFR 132, HIFIH Laboratory (UPRES 3859, IFR 132), Angers, F-49035 France.
Konate
Anselme
A
Guilluy
Marine
M
Gorea
Gabriella
G
Sawadogo
Apollinaire
A
Quemener
Emmanuel
E
Oberti
Frédéric
F
Reaud
Stéphane
S
Hubert-Fouchard
Isabelle
I
Dib
Nina
N
Calès
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D015203:Reproducibility of Results