title: [Acoustic radiation force impulse for evaluation of hepatic fibrosis and early stage cirrhosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in evaluating the stage of hepatic fibrosis and early stage cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with viral hepatitis underwent liver biopsy and 33 normal subjects (S0) were selected to accept ARFI,the shear wave velocity of hepatic segments s5, s6, s7, s8 and size of liver were measured. The results of liver and spleen size and portal vein's diameter were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 66 patients were divided into 3 groups: S1, S2-S3, S4. ARFI for 66 patients and 33 normal subjects showed good image quality. There were statistically significant differences between S4 group and S0 group, S1 group, S2-S3 group for the shear wave velocity of hepatic segments s5, s6, s7, s8 (P < 0.05). Between S2-S3 group and SO group S1 group, the shear wave velocity of hepatic segments s5, s6, s7, s8 also have statistically significant differences (P < 0.05), other parameters showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Spleen size and the portal vein's diameter of S4 group were larger than those in other groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The invasive acoustic radiation force impulse could evaluate the stage of hepatic fibrosis and early stage cirrhosis in patients suffering from viral hepatitis. The measurement was feasible. It was suitable for clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasonography, The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518112, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ying-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gui-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Han-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology