title: Reproducibility of shear wave velocity measurements by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging of the liver: a study in healthy volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to investigate interobserver reproducibility using acoustic radiation force impulse imaging and to develop an acoustic radiation force impulse scoring system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty healthy volunteers with normal liver function test values were selected for the study. Shear wave velocity measurements, expressed in meters per second, were taken in a deep portion of liver segment 6. Two observers with different levels of experience performed the measurements independently and blindly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the measurements taken by the 2 observers were valid, even in volunteers with a body mass index of greater than 28 kg/m(2). The results point to very good interobserver reproducibility of shear wave velocity measurements, with an intraclass coefficient correlation of 0.86 (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that shear wave velocity measurements using the acoustic radiation force impulse technique and a standardized protocol are accurate and reproducible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Florentina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Aroca
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reus
authors.forename: Juan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Berná-Serna
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilabert
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cepero
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography