title: [The methodology and influential factors of real-time elastography in liver examination].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the methodology and influential factors of real-time elastography (RTE) in liver examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty normal volunteers received the examination of liver with RTE. All strain images were analyzed by the Strain Histogram Measurement and the liver fibrosis index (LFI) values were recorded. Two-tailed t-test was used to evaluate the significance of the potential influence factors of RTE, including inter-lobar variations, respiratory phase, different sections and gender. A paired two-tailed t-test and Bland-Altman test were used in the analysis of the inter- and intra-observer consistency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the LFI values in the left lobe and those in the right lobe (2.52 +/- 0.47 vs. 1.58 +/- 0.41), also between right intercostal and right sub-costal approach (1.58 +/- 0.41 vs. 1. 59 +/- 0.45). There were no significant differences either between the LFI values of end-expiration and those of end-inspiration (2.61 +/- 0.54 vs. 1.58 +/- 0.41) or between male and female (1.57 +/- 0.37 vs. 1.60 +/- 0.46). RTE showed goodness of fit between the inter- and intra-observer consistency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver stiffness measurement performed by RTE at end-inspiration in the right lobe with inter-costal approach may reveal liver elasticity more accurately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Wu
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jie-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Lu-Lu
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration; D055815:Young Adult