title: Ultrasound Elastography Used for Preventive Non-Invasive Screening in Early Detection of Liver Fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early discovery of liver fibrosis is becoming more popular because of enhanced incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Ultrasound-based liver elastography is a method used to approve suspected liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. We assessed the clinical usefulness of acoustic radiation force impulse shear wave elasticity imaging (ARFI-SWEI) as a preventive screening method to uncover fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We screened 382 patients by native routine sonography for abnormal liver results and divided them into six groups: group 1: normal liver, groups 2-4: fatty liver grade I-III, group 5: liver cirrhosis, and group 6: inhomogenic liver tissue. Then ARFI-SWEI was performed and the results were compared with published shear wave velocity cut-off values that were predictive of each fibrosis stage (F0-4). A control group consisted of 20 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The part of liver fibrosis ≥ F2 was in groups 1-4: 20-32%, group 5: 100%, and group 6: 91%. Main causes for fibrosis stage ≥ F2 were (non)-alcoholic steatohepatitis, chronic viral or autoimmune hepatitis and chronic heart failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening of the liver tissue in b-mode ultrasound can underestimate possible liver fibrosis; by using ARFI-SWEI, liver fibrosis can be uncovered early. It is a suitable preventive method comparable to colonoscopy for colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Steinbacher Hohl 2-26, 60488 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health System Research, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jona T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Stahmeyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Steinbacher Hohl 2-26, 60488 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegbert
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossol
keywords: ARFI; Elastography; Liver fibrosis; Ultrasound