Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology | 2019
Comparative study of ElastQ imaging and ElastPQ for evaluation of Liver Fibrosis
Abstract
Purpose To prospectively compare feasibility, acquisition time, and liver stiffness (LS) value of shear wave point quantification (ElastPQ) and a new real-time shear wave imaging (ElastQ Imaging) and to correlate liver stiffness (LS) values measured by the two elastographic techniques equipped on a same machine. Materials and Methods We include 221 patients (M: F = 122: 99, age 53.6 ± 13.2 years), 104 of whom were previously diagnosed with chronic liver disease. LS values were measured in the same session using two techniques equipped on a same ultrasound machine. The feasibility of the two techniques was compared by Chi square. The acquisition time and LS values of the two techniques were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The correlation and association of LS values obtained by the two techniques were assessed with Spearman correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. Results Technical failure was not observed in both ElastPQ and ElastQ Imaging. There was significant difference in reliable measurements between Elast PQ (76.0% [168/221]) and ElastQ Imaging (94.5% [206/221]; p Conclusion ElastQ Imaging would be a feasible and fast tool for evaluation of liver fibrosis. The optimal cut-off values of ElastQ Imaging in discriminating liver fibrosis staging might be predicted from the linear regression equation between ElastQ Imaging and ElastPQ.