BACKGROUND: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) is a new technology integrated into conventional B-mode ultrasonography. ARFI is used to evaluate tissue stiffness in several organs, but this method has not been applied for liver fibrosis. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether ARFI elastography is useful for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. METHODS: This study enrolled 55 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease who underwent a liver biopsy for histological assessment of liver fibrosis by the Metavir scoring system. Liver stiffness of the 55 patients and 25 healthy volunteers was evaluated by ARFI elastography and was expressed as the shear wave velocity. Cut-off values were determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Histological liver fibrosis was evaluated by Metavir scoring; F0: six cases, F1: 14 cases, F2: nine cases, F3: nine cases and F4: 17 cases. Liver stiffness determined by ARFI elastography was correlated with histological liver fibrosis (P<0.0001). The areas under the ROC curves were 0.94 (95% confidence intervals, 0.87-0.99) for F2-F4, 0.94 (0.88-0.99) for F3-F4 and 0.96 (0.91-1.01) for F4. The cut-off values of the shear wave velocity were as follows: >1.34 m/s for F2-F4 (sensitivity 91.4%, specificity 80%); >1.44 m/s for F3-F4 (sensitivity 96.2%, specificity 79.3%); and >1.80 m/s for F4 (sensitivity 94.1%, specificity 86.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic ARFI elastography is a novel, non-invasive and reliable method for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.
BACKGROUND: Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) is a new technology integrated into conventional B-mode ultrasonography. ARFI is used to evaluate tissue stiffness in several organs, but this method has not been applied for liver fibrosis. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether ARFI elastography is useful for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. METHODS: This study enrolled 55 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease who underwent a liver biopsy for histological assessment of liver fibrosis by the Metavir scoring system. Liver stiffness of the 55 patients and 25 healthy volunteers was evaluated by ARFI elastography and was expressed as the shear wave velocity. Cut-off values were determined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Histological liver fibrosis was evaluated by Metavir scoring; F0: six cases, F1: 14 cases, F2: nine cases, F3: nine cases and F4: 17 cases. Liver stiffness determined by ARFI elastography was correlated with histological liver fibrosis (P<0.0001). The areas under the ROC curves were 0.94 (95% confidence intervals, 0.87-0.99) for F2-F4, 0.94 (0.88-0.99) for F3-F4 and 0.96 (0.91-1.01) for F4. The cut-off values of the shear wave velocity were as follows: >1.34 m/s for F2-F4 (sensitivity 91.4%, specificity 80%); >1.44 m/s for F3-F4 (sensitivity 96.2%, specificity 79.3%); and >1.80 m/s for F4 (sensitivity 94.1%, specificity 86.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic ARFI elastography is a novel, non-invasive and reliable method for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease.
Authors: O S Jaffer; P F C Lung; D Bosanac; V M Patel; S M Ryan; M A Heneghan; A Quaglia; P S Sidhu Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2012-07-04 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Armen Sarvazyan; Timothy J Hall; Matthew W Urban; Mostafa Fatemi; Salavat R Aglyamov; Brian S Garra Journal: Curr Med Imaging Rev Date: 2011-11
Authors: Ki Tae Yoon; Sun Min Lim; Jun Yong Park; Do Young Kim; Sang Hoon Ahn; Kwang-Hyub Han; Chae Yoon Chon; Mong Cho; Jun Woo Lee; Seung Up Kim Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 3.199