title: Comparison of intrahepatic vein-to-liver parenchyma and intercostal muscle-to-liver parenchyma strain ratios in the assessment of liver fibrosis: which one should we use?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to investigate whether there is a difference in diagnostic value between vein to parenchyma strain ratio (VPSR) and muscle to parenchyma strain ratio (MPSR).
  
  
  METHODS
  VPSR and MPSR were calculated via sonoelastography, and were recorded for comparison with histopathology. ROC analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's rank correlation test were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 59 cases of individuals who underwent biopsy (29 women, 30 men). When the threshold value for VPSR was set at 3.23, the sensitivity was 96.2% and the specificity was 83.3% (p < 0.001, F ≥ 1). When the threshold value was set at 3.01 for MPR, the sensitivity was 88.7% and the specificity was 83.3% (p < 0.001, F ≥ 1). The areas under the curve values were VPSR 0.95 and MPSR 0.92 for F ≥ 1, VPSR 0.94 and MPSR 0.92 for F ≥ 2, and VPSR 1.00 and MPSR 0.76 for F = 3 (p < 0.001). The Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.75, and a high positive concordance was found between VPSR and MPSR (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, a high positive correlation was observed between two strain ratios, and VPSR was found to be more reliable than MPSR in determining liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey, bahri6parmak@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bahri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altiparmak
authors.forename: Mehmet Selim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nural
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danaci
mesh_terms: D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity