Reproducibility of 2‐Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography Assessment of the Liver: A Direct Comparison With Point Shear Wave Elastography in Healthy Volunteers

• DOI: 10.7863/ultra.16.07018
• Publication Date: 2017-04-05T07:50:54Z
• Authors: Cheng Fang; Eleni Konstantatou; Odyssefs Romanos; Gibran T. Yusuf; Daniel J. Quinlan; Paul S. Sidhu
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Observer Variation; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Liver; Reference Values; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Female

Objectives Two‐dimensional shear wave elastography (2D‐SWE) imaging for the noninvasive assessment of tissue stiffness was assessed reproducibility in healthy volunteers quantifying liver elasticity, compared with an established point (p‐SWE) technique also known as virtual touch quantification (VTQ) (SIEMENS). Methods Eleven were examined by four experienced operators on two occasions, separated weeks (sessions A and B). Ten 2D‐SWE using LOGIQ E9 p‐SWE measurements VTQ (in meters per second) consecutively taken from deep portions segments 5 or 6 away vascular structures, standard techniques. Inter‐ intra‐observer agreement intraclass coefficient (ICC). Results total 880 velocities recorded. Mean values ranged between 1.188 1.196 m/s 1.170 to 1.207 p‐SWE. Interobserver good both sessions ICCs 0.88 0.93 0.87 (p‐SWE). The overall intra‐operator B ICC 0.83, respectively. For inter‐ variability, more than equal 0.71, indicating that results reliable. There a strong significant correlation ( r = 0.87, P .0006), but their did not agree equally across different velocities. Conclusions SWE is reliable reproducible method measuring elasticity has similar degree reliability VTQ, absolute techniques should be used interchangeably.