Acoustic radiation force impulse and supersonic shear imaging versus transient elastography for liver fibrosis assessment.
Our study compared three elastographic methods--transient elastography (TE), acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging and supersonic shear imaging (SSI)--with respect to the feasibility of their use in liver fibrosis evaluation. We also compared the performance of ARFI imaging and SSI, with TE as the reference method. The study included 332 patients, with or without hepatopathies, in which liver stiffness was evaluated using TE, ARFI and SSI. Reliable measurements were defined as a median value of 10 (TE, ARFI imaging) or 5 (SSI) liver stiffness measurements with a success rate ≥60% and an interquartile range interval <30%. A significantly higher percentage of reliable measurements were obtained using ARFI than by using TE and SSI: 92.1% versus 72.2% (p < 0.0001) and 92.1% versus 71.3% (p < 0.0001). Higher body mass index and older age were significantly associated with inability to obtain reliable measurements of liver stiffness using TE and SSI. In 55.4% of patients, reliable liver stiffness measurements were obtained using all three elastographic methods, and ARFI imaging and TE were similarly accurate in diagnosing significant fibrosis and cirrhosis, with TE as the reference method.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. Electronic address: isporea@umft.ro.
Ioan
I
Sporea
Simona
S
Bota
Ana
A
Jurchis
Roxana
R
Sirli
Oana
O
Grădinaru-Tascău
Alina
A
Popescu
Iulia
I
Ratiu
Milana
M
Szilaski
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography; Liver fibrosis; Liver stiffness; Supersonic shear imaging; Transient elastography