title: Which are the cut-off values of 2D-Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) liver stiffness measurements predicting different stages of liver fibrosis, considering Transient Elastography (TE) as the reference method?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify liver stiffness (LS) cut-off values assessed by means of 2D-Shear Wave Elastography (2D-SWE) for predicting different stages of liver fibrosis, considering Transient Elastography (TE) as the reference method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our prospective study included 383 consecutive subjects, with or without hepatopathies, in which LS was evaluated by means of TE and 2D-SWE. To discriminate between various stages of fibrosis by TE we used the following LS cut-offs (kPa): F1-6, F2-7.2, F3-9.6 and F4-14.5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of reliable LS measurements was similar for TE and 2D-SWE: 73.9% vs. 79.9%, p=0.06. Older age and higher BMI were associated for both TE and 2D-SWE with the impossibility to obtain reliable LS measurements. Reliable LS measurements by both elastographic methods were obtained in 65.2% of patients. A significant correlation was found between TE and 2D-SWE measurements (r=0.68). The best LS cut-off values assessed by 2D-SWE for predicting different stages of liver fibrosis were: F≥1: >7.1 kPa (AUROC=0.825); F≥2: >7.8 kPa (AUROC=0.859); F≥3: >8 kPa (AUROC=0.897) and for F=4: >11.5 kPa (AUROC=0.914).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  2D-SWE is a reliable method for the non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis, considering TE as the reference method. The accuracy of 2D-SWE measurements increased with the severity of liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Electronic address: isporea@umft.ro.
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sporea
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Electronic address: bota_simona1982@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bota
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Electronic address: bluonmyown@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gradinaru-Taşcău
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Electronic address: roxanasirli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sirli
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Electronic address: alinamircea.popescu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania. Electronic address: ana.jurchis@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jurchiş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Liver fibrosis; Liver stiffness; Shear Waves Elastography; Transient Elastography