Comparison of two diagnostic ultrasound systems for quantification of steatosis and fibrosis

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent disorder associated with an increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Fatty liver (steatosis hepatis) is the early manifestation of NAFLD in which fat is deposited in liver cells. Depending on the extent of fat deposition, different degrees of severity of steatosis are distinguished. Inflammatory activity in the liver also results in fibrotic changes; again, different degrees of fibrosis are distinguished depending on the extent of remodeling of the liver tissue.

In this study, two noninvasive ultrasound methods to quantify steatosis and fibrosis in liver tissue were compared.

In 108 patients (with or without known fatty liver or fibrosis), liver fat content was determined using either Continuous Attenuation Parameter (CAP) determined by Transient Elastography (TE) or Attenuation Imaging (ATI) B-scan based Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI). Similarly, liver stiffness measurements using TE were compared with 2D shear wave elastography (2D-SWE).

Results of these measurements show only weak correlations between measurements of the two systems.

Alternating use of these two different ultrasound systems for longitudinal quantification of steatosis and fibrosis therefore appears to be difficult due to striking differences in measurement results of the two methods at the same time of examination.

Keywords

steatosis hepatis; fatty liver; non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD); continuous attenuation parameter (CAP); attenuation imaging (ATI); transient elastography (TE); 2D shear wave elastography (2D-SWE)

Publication History

Article published online:
20 June 2022