Abstract
Background
Elastography is a promising non-invasive approach for assessing liver fibrosis. We
assessed diagnostic performances of liver and spleen stiffness using supersonic shear
imaging for diagnosing cirrhosis severity and oesophageal varices.
Methods
401 consecutive cirrhotic patients were prospectively enrolled from November 2012
to March 2014. All patients underwent liver and spleen stiffness measurement with
supersonic shear imaging and Fibroscan.
Results
Failures of measurement were 6.2% and 29.2% for liver and spleen stiffness (supersonic
shear imaging), and 18.4% for liver stiffness (Fibroscan). Liver and spleen stiffness
were correlated with severity of cirrhosis, with values increasing according to Child–Pugh
subclasses and presence of complications. With a negative predictive value ≥90%, liver
stiffness cut-offs for high-risk oesophageal varices, history of ascites, Child–Pugh
B/C, variceal bleeding and clinical decompensation were 12.8, 19, 21.4, 30.5, and
39.4 kPa, respectively. Areas under the curve of spleen and liver stiffness (supersonic
shear imaging), and liver stiffness (Fibroscan) were 0.80, 0.77 and 0.73 respectively
for detection of oesophageal varices.
Conclusion
Liver stiffness using supersonic shear imaging is a relevant diagnostic tool for assessing
cirrhosis severity and its complications. Spleen stiffness shows promising results
for the detection of oesophageal varices but is not yet sufficiently robust for clinical
practice owing to high failure rates.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 07, 2015
Accepted:
April 12,
2015
Received:
January 8,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
