Hong Ding MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hansheng Xia MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Qing Yu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Beijian Huang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wenping Wang MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the value of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) technique in the prediction of chronic liver fibrosis.

Liver stiffness was measured with ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system equipped with Virtual Tough Tissues Quantification (VTQ) based on ARFI technique. A total of 181 patients who would receive liver resection or liver biopsy within one month were enrolled in this study. There were 148 males and 33 females with an average age of 53.25±12.97 yrs. Each subject received VTQ measurements in four parts (superficial and deep parts of right lobe, and superficial and deep parts of left lobe) and every part was measured five times to get five values. The reproducibility of different part of VTQ was analyzed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The mean values of VTQ were compared with the stage of liver fibrosis (S0-S4) pathologically according to the Scheuer scoring system.

The achievement ratio of measurement was 99.8%, 99.6%, 92.3% and 83.1% in the superficial and deep parts of right lobe, and superficial and deep parts of left lobe, respectively. The achievement rate was high in both right and left lobes, while the highest value of ICC was from the deep part of right lobe. The mean values of VTQ were 1.27±0.33m/s of S0 group, 1.26±0.29 m/s of S1 group, 1.27±0.26 m/s of S2 group, 1.57±0.46 m/s of S3 group and 1.96±0.49 m/s of S4 group from the deep part of right lobe. There were no significant differences between the mean value of VTQ in the S0 and S1 subgroup, or S1 and S2 subgroup. There were significant differences between the mean value of VTQ in the S0-S2 and S3 subgroup, or S3 and S4 subgroup. The areas under ROC curves were 0.841 for S≥S3 and 0.842 for S=S4.

It is stable to measure liver stiffness with VTQ technique. Right hepatic lobe is the suitable position to be measured. VTQ technique is a new, noninvasive and promising method in the assessment of liver fibrosis.

 Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) technique is available in ACUSON S2000 ultrasound system to measure the tissue stiffness by transmitting a pulse and measuring an elastic shear wave.

Ding, H, Xia, H, Yu, Q, Huang, B, Wang, W, Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Technique.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9010665.html