Measurement of liver stiffness with two imaging techniques: magnetic resonance elastography and ultrasound elastometry.
OBJECTIVE
To cross-validate the magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) technique with a clinical device, based on an ultrasound elastometry system called Fibroscan.


METHODS
Ten healthy subjects underwent an MRE and a Fibroscan test. The MRE technique used a round pneumatic driver at 60 Hz to generate shear waves inside the liver. An elastogram representing a map of the liver stiffness was generated allowing for the measurement of the average liver stiffness inside a region of interest. The Fibroscan technique used an ultrasound probe (3.5 MHz) composed of a vibrator that sent low-frequency (50 Hz) shear waves inside the right liver lobe. The probe acts as an emitter-receptor that measures the velocity of the waves propagated inside the liver tissue.


RESULTS
The mean shear stiffness measured with the MRE and Fibroscan techniques were 1.95+/-0.06 kPa and 1.79+/-0.30 kPa, respectively. A higher standard deviation was found for the same subject with Fibroscan.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows why MRE should be investigated beyond the Fibroscan. The MRE technique provided elasticity of the entire liver, meanwhile the Fibroscan provided values of elasticity locally.
Bensamoun
Sabine F
SF
Biomechanics and Bioengineery Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6600, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, and Centre hospitalier de Compiègne, service gastro-entérologie et hépatologie, Compiègne, France. sabine.bensamoun@utc.fr
Wang
Lu
L
Robert
Ludovic
L
Charleux
Fabrice
F
Latrive
Jean-Paul
JP
Ho Ba Tho
Marie-Christine
MC
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity