title: Clinical feasibility of liver elastography by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transient elastography is increasingly used for assessment of liver fibrosis. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) is a new technology to perform liver elastography.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the clinical feasibility, validity and accuracy of the ARFI method and compared it to Fibroscan(®) and liver histology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasonographic elastography of the liver using ARFI was performed in 29 patients with liver cirrhosis, 70 patients with liver disease and 23 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ARFI was feasible in all patients providing a mean propagation velocity of 1.65±0.93 m/s. ARFI results of the right and left liver lobes were comparable (p<0.001). In cirrhotic patients, ARFI gave significantly higher values than in the other patients (p<0.001). Rate of invalid measurements was lower in ARFI than in Fibroscan(®) (p<0.04). Both elastography methods were highly correlated to each other (p<0.001). Furthermore, ARFI correlated to histological grading of liver fibrosis (p<0.001) and to inflammatory activity (p<0.05). Liver steatosis had no statistical influence on ARFI results (p=0.2) in contrast to Fibroscan(®) (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new ultrasonographic method of ARFI elastography allows valid, accurate and flexible evaluation of liver stiffness. It seems more feasible in patients with liver cirrhosis than Fibroscan(®). ARFI elastography of the left liver lobe is also possible. Liver steatosis does not seem to influence ARFI elastography.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. rifai.k@gmx.de
authors: Kinan
authors: K
authors: Rifai
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Cornberg
authors: Ingmar
authors: I
authors: Mederacke
authors: Matthias J
authors: MJ
authors: Bahr
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Wedemeyer
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Malinski
authors: Heike
authors: H
authors: Bantel
authors: Bita
authors: B
authors: Boozari
authors: Andrej
authors: A
authors: Potthoff
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Manns
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gebel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies