title: Computer-assisted ultrasound analysis of liver echogenicity in obese and normal-weight children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No simple computer-assisted method for assessing liver echogenicity has been developed to date. This study describes an accessible and reproducible computer-assisted method for measuring liver echogenicity in obese (body mass index [BMI] >/= 97th percentile) and normal-weight (BMI from 25th to 75th percentile) children and correlates the results with laboratory test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two children (age range, 6-11 years) were assigned to one of two groups of 11 children each and paired by sex and age. All children underwent ultrasound, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests. A hepatorenal index was calculated using software to analyze the difference in echogenicity between the liver parenchyma and kidney cortex. The Student's t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hepatorenal index was statistically different between the obese and normal-weight children (33.9 +/- 6.6 vs 14.1 +/- 6.1, p < 0.001). The analysis of laboratory tests of obese and normal-weight children revealed statistically significant differences in the values of glucose (p = 0.034), insulin (p = 0.008), triglycerides (p = 0.036), uric acid (p < 0.001), and alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer-assisted analysis of ultrasound liver echogenicity using the software is an accessible, reproducible, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool for calculating the hepatorenal index. This tool may be used for follow-up and control in the treatment of fat infiltration in the liver of obese children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sol, Av. Ipiranga 6690, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. ricsoder@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ricardo Bernardi
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Soder
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldisserotto
authors.forename: Vinícius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duval da Silva
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography