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Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of the liver: can fat deposition in the liver affect the measurement of liver stiffness?

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) results between livers with and without fat deposition.

Materials and methods

We studied 200 consecutive healthy individuals who underwent health checkups at our institution. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the echogenicity of the liver on ultrasonography (US) and the liver-spleen attenuation ratio index (LSR) on computed tomography: normal liver group (n = 121, no evidence of bright liver on US and LSR > 1); fatty liver group (n = 46, bright liver on US and LSR < 1); others (n = 33, inconclusive results). Subjects in the inconclusive group and those who consumed alcohol >5 days a week (n = 18) were excluded from the analysis. The velocities measured by ARFI in the normal and fatty liver groups were compared using the two one-sided test.

Results

The mean (SD) velocity measured in the normal and fatty liver groups were 1.03 (0.12) m/s and 1.02 (0.12) m/s, respectively. The ARFI results of the fatty liver group were similar to those of the normal liver group (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

This study suggested that fat deposition in the liver does not affect the liver stiffness measurement determined by ARFI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, 409-3898, Japan

    Utaroh Motosugi, Tomoaki Ichikawa & Tsutomu Araki

  2. HIMEDIC Imaging Center at Lake Yamanaka, Yamanashi, Japan

    Yoshibumi Niitsuma

Authors
  1. Utaroh Motosugi
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  2. Tomoaki Ichikawa
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  3. Yoshibumi Niitsuma
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  4. Tsutomu Araki
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Correspondence to Utaroh Motosugi.

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Motosugi, U., Ichikawa, T., Niitsuma, Y. et al. Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of the liver: can fat deposition in the liver affect the measurement of liver stiffness?. Jpn J Radiol 29, 639–643 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-011-0607-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-011-0607-5

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