title: Normal values of spleen stiffness in healthy children assessed by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI): comparison between two ultrasound transducers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal hypertension, a major complication of hepatic fibrosis, can affect the stiffness of the spleen.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To suggest normal values of spleen stiffness determined by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging in healthy children and to compare measurements using two different US probes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, 60 healthy children between 1 day and 14 years of age were assigned to four age groups with 15 children in each. Measurements were performed using two transducers (convex 4C1 and linear 9L4), and 10 measurements were obtained in each child, 5 with each probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean splenic shear wave velocities were 2.17 m/s (SD 0.35, 95% CI 2.08-2.26) with the 4C1 probe and 2.15 m/s (SD 0.23, 95% CI 2.09-2.21) with the 9L4 probe (not significant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found normal values for spleen stiffness with no difference in the mean values obtained using two types of US transducers, but with higher variability using a convex compared to a linear transducer.
authors: Radiology Department, Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Joaquín Rodrigo 2, 2822, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain, tcanasmacia@yahoo.es.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Cañas
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Fontanilla
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Miralles
authors: Araceli
authors: A
authors: Maciá
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Malalana
authors: Enriqueta
authors: E
authors: Román
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D033081:Shear Strength / Q000502:physiology; D013030:Spain; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014159:Transducers