ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical value of high-frequency ultrasound combined with virtual touch tissue imaging and quantification in the assessment of limb muscle tension after stroke in patients.Methods:A total of 31 patients with stroke who received treatment in Wenzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from January 2020 to May 2022 and 41 healthy controls who concurrently underwent physical examination in the same hospital were included in this study. Before rehabilitation treatment, the shear wave velocity of the main muscle groups of the limbs was measured using virtual touch tissue imaging and quantification in all participants. The shear wave velocity of the main muscle groups was compared between the affected and healthy sides of patients between two sides of patients. The patient's muscle tension was evaluated using the modified Ashworth Scale. The shear wave velocity of the affected muscle groups in patients was correlated with the modified Ashworth Scale score.Results:There were no significant differences in the shear wave velocities of the main muscle groups of upper (biceps, flexor digitorum sublimis, flexor digitorum profundus) and lower [medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle] limbs between the left [(2.46 ± 0.26) m/s, (2.81 ± 0.50) m/s, (2.96 ± 0.31) m/s, (2.49 ± 0.44) m/s, (2.21 ± 0.20) m/s] and right [(2.42 ± 0.29) m/s, (2.80 ± 0.47) m/s, (3.02 ± 0.36) m/s, (2.54 ± 0.37) m/s, (2.18 ± 0.17) m/s] sides in healthy controls ( t = 0.78, 0.04, 0.83, 0.58, 1.15, P = 0.435, 0.967, 0.405, 0.558, 0.216). The shear wave velocities of the main muscle groups of upper [flexor digitorum sublimis (3.74 ± 0.67) m/s, flexor digitorum profundus (3.64 ± 0.60) m/s), biceps (3.63 ± 0.64) m/s] and lower [medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle (3.28 ± 0.61) m/s, lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (2.90 ± 0.37) m/s] limbs on the affected side in patients with stroke were significantly higher than (2.56 ± 0.40) m/s, (2.67 ± 0.38) m/s, (2.78 ± 0.41) m/s, (2.30 ± 0.21) m/s, (2.25 ± 0.23) m/s on the healthy side ( t = 11.81, 8.21, 8.75, 8.91, 10.43, all P < 0.001). The shear wave velocities of the main muscle groups of the upper (flexor digitorum sublimis, flexor digitorum profundus, and biceps) and lower (medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle and lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle) limbs were positively correlated with the modified Ashworth Scale score ( r = 0.77, 0.70, 0.72, 0.74, 0.78, P = 0.007, 0.029, 0.021, 0.016, 0.001). Conclusion:Monitoring the shear wave velocities of the main muscle groups of the upper and lower limbs using high-frequency ultrasound combined with virtual touch tissue imaging and quantification can effectively reflect the change in limb muscle tension of patients with stroke, which is highly valuable for evaluating rehabilitation efficacy and prognosis in patients with stroke.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the clinical application value of sound touch elastography (STE) in the evaluation of the curative effect of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of stroke patients with upper limb spasm.Methods:Fifty-five patients with upper limb spasm after stroke were selected as stroke group, and thirty healthy volunteers matched with age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were selected as control group between September 2020 and March 2021. The shear wave velocity (SWV) of biceps brachii and triceps brachii were measured in both groups. In stroke group, the SWVs of biceps brachii and triceps brachii on spastic side and non-spastic side were measured before and after acupuncture treatment, and the correlations between SWV and spastic grade (X), muscle response angle (R1), passive range of motion (R2), spastic angle (R2-R1) of modified Tardieu scale (MTS) were analyzed.Results:At 0 degree, the SWV of spastic biceps brachii (3.85±0.62)m/s was significantly higher than those of the non-spastic side [(3.34±0.35)m/s] and control group [(3.15±2.66)m/s] (all P<0.001), and decreased [ (3.45±0.47)m/s] after acupuncture treatment ( P<0.001). At 90 degree, the SWV of non-spastic biceps brachii was larger than those of spastic side and control group [1.98(1.92, 2.14)m/s vs 1.98(1.92, 2.11) m/s, 1.95(1.86, 2.05)m/s, all P<0.05], and there was no significant difference between the SWV of spastic side and control group ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in SWV of triceps brachii between the spastic side and control group at both 0 degree or 90 degree ( P>0.05). At 0 degree, SWV positively correlated with MTS (x) ( rs=0.639, P<0.001) and negatively with R1 ( rs=-0.527, P<0.001) and R2 ( rs=-0.825, P<0.001) on the spastic biceps brachii. Conclusions:STE can provide quantitative index for the objective evaluation of the curative effect of acupuncture in upper limb spasm after stroke, and it is proposed to be an effective means of clinical diagnosis and efficacy evaluation in patients with upper limb spasm after stroke.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical value of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) technique in the diagnosis of acute rejection of transplant kidney at different stages. Methods Clinical data of 170 renal transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. According to the time of VTQ examination and the occurrence of acute rejection after renal transplantation, the recipients within 4 weeks and after 4 weeks post-renal transplantation were assigned into the normal renal function group (n=41, 51) and acute rejection group (n=22, 56). Clinical ultrasound parameters at different stages after renal transplantation were compared between two groups. The diagnostic value of ultrasound parameters in acute rejection at different stages after renal transplantation was evaluated. Results Within 4 weeks post-renal transplantation, the resistance index (RI) and shear wave velocity (SWV) in the acute rejection group were significantly higher than those in the normal renal function group (both P < 0.001). After 4 weeks post-renal transplantation, the SWV in the acute rejection group was significantly higher than that in the normal renal function group (P < 0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of RI and SWV in the diagnosis of acute rejection were 0.729 and 0.803 respectively within 4 weeks post-renal transplantation, which were 0.478 and 0.794 respectively after 4 weeks post-renal transplantation. The diagnostic value of SWV was higher than RI (P < 0.05). The cutoff value of SWV in the diagnosis of acute rejection within 4 weeks post-renal transplantation was considerably higher than that after 4 weeks post-renal transplantation. Conclusions VTQ technique can effectively assist in diagnosing acute rejection of transplant kidney at different stages.
ABSTRACT
Background: Thyroid nodules are a common entity in an iodine deficient population, however malignant nodules are relatively uncommon with excellent prognosis. Ultrasound elastography is a useful tool for characterization of nodules and allows selection of tumors for FNAC. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of strain elastography and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules.Methods: This study included 100 thyroid nodules evaluated using ultrasound TIRADS classification. Strain elastography evaluated the nodules using the elasticity score and strain ratio followed by VTI and shear wave velocity generated from ARFI data to characterize the nodules. Final diagnoses were obtained from cytological and/or histological evaluation. The diagnostic performance of the two elastography methods was analyzed and compared by multiple receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results: Of the 100 thyroid nodules observed in 100 patients (82 females and 18 males), 22% were malignant nodules and 78% were benign. The cut off values for elasticity scores, mean SR, VTI grade and mean SWV for predicting malignant thyroid nodules were greater than or equal to score 2, 2.4, grade 3, 2.5m/s respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for elasticity score, mean SR, VTI grade and mean SWV was 0.79, 0.78, 0.89 and 0.84, respectively (P>0.05) and the accuracy was 74, 81.6, 88 and 87.5%, respectively (P>0.05). The accuracy of the combined use of conventional sonography, strain elastography and ARFI imaging was 85.6% respectively, which was higher than that of conventional sonography (P>0.05).Conclusions: Strain elastography and ARFI imaging have high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules and therefore have good clinical utility in evaluating these lesions.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate whether the presence of patchy echogenicity in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is predictive of liver stiffness. METHODS: A total of 200 CHB patients with and without patchy echogenicity of the liver were assigned to two groups, with 100 patients in each group, and 32 of them underwent liver biopsy. Additionally, 80 healthy subjects, 100 inactive HBV carriers, and 100 patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis were assigned to the control groups. Laboratory tests and clinical data were collected, and shear wave velocity (SWV) of the liver was measured for all 480 subjects. RESULTS: The median SWV in patients with a normal liver, inactive hepatitis B virus carriers, CHB patients with and without patchy echogenicity, and decompensated hepatic cirrhosis were 1.07 m/sec, 1.08 m/sec, 1.16 m/sec, 1.16 m/sec, and 2.02 m/sec, respectively; there was no significant difference in SWV values between CHB patients with patchy echogenicity and those without patchy echogenicity. Furthermore, among CHB patients with and without patchy echogenicity, no significant difference in SWV was found according to fibrosis stage. CONCLUSION: The presence of patchy echogenicity of the liver does not indicate a higher degree of liver stiffness.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biopsy , Elasticity , Fibrosis , Healthy Volunteers , Hepatitis B virus , Hepatitis B, Chronic , Hepatitis, Chronic , Liver Cirrhosis , Liver , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the biologic viability and boundary range of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) by the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and acoustic radiation force impulse elastography (ARFI). Methods Totally 27 HAE patients confirmed by pathology underwent CEUS and ARFI examinations. Results Gray scale sonography of HAE showed unclear boundary, inhomogeneous, and middle hyperechoic nodules, and the maximum area was (6.08 ± 4.47) cm2 in 27 lesions. CEUS of HAE showed non-enhancement in three phases and black hole sign. Circumferential enhancement on the pe riphery of the lesion was synchronized with the liver parenchyma and showed “fast in and slow out”. The maximum area was (8.87 ± 4.83) cm2. The area of ECUS was larger than gray scale sonography in HAE (t = 2.20, P = 0.03). The mean shear wave velocities (SWVs) of the interior, the boundary range, and the surrounding liver tissues of HAE were statistically different by ARFI (F = 84.538, P < 0.001), and the interior had the highest values. Conclusions CEUS and ARFI examinations can detect the biologic viability and boundary range of migrating zone around HAE, which is valuable for guiding treatment, judging curative effect, and predicting prognosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the value of virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) in evaluation of rehabilitation effect of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: Forty spastic children were randomly divided into 2 groups (each n=20). Children treated with rehabilitation training and botulinum toxin A (BTA) injection were assigned into BTA group, while those treated with rehabilitation training, BTA injection and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) were assigned into BTA+ESWT group. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and shear wave velocity (SWV) using VTIQ were assessed before treatment and 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks after treatment. Results: There were total significant differences in MAS scores and SWV before and after treatment in both 2 groups (all P<0.01). Compared with those before treatment, MAS score and SWV in BTA group decreased to the lowest 4 weeks after treatment (both P<0.05), while MAS score and SWV in BTA+ESWT group significantly decreased 1 week after treatment (both P<0.05). With time going after treatment, MAS scores and SWV in both groups increased gradually, but the differences were still statistically significant compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion: VTIQ can objectively and quantitatively evaluate the hardness of spastic muscles, therefore can be used as an effective method for evaluation rehabilitation treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the feasibility of using shear wave velocity (SWV) in assessing the stiffness of carotid plaque by supersonic shear imaging (SSI) and explore preliminary clinical value for such evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Supersonic shear imaging was performed in 142 patients with ischemic stroke, including 76 males and 66 females with mean age of 66 years (range, 45–80 years). The maximum, minimum, and mean values of SWV were measured for 129 carotid plaques. SWVs were compared between echolucent and echogenic plaques. Correlations between SWVs and serum homocysteine levels were investigated. Based on neurological symptom, the surrogate marker of vulnerable plaque (VP), binary logistic regression was performed and area under curve (AUC) of homocysteine only and homocysteine combing SWVmean was calculated respectively. RESULTS: Echogenic plaques (n = 51) had higher SWVs than echolucent ones (n = 78) (SWVmin 3.91 [3.24–4.17] m/s vs. 1.51 [1.04–1.94] m/s; SWVmean, 4.29 [3.98–4.57] m/s vs. 2.09 [1.69–2.41] m/s; SWVmax, 4.67 [4.33–4.86] m/s vs. 2.62 [2.32–3.31] m/s all p values < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that stiffness of plaques was negatively correlated with homocysteine level. R values for SWVmin, SWVmean, and SWVmax were −0.205, −0.213, and −0.199, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that sex (p = 0.008), low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.015), triglycerides (p = 0.011), SWVmean (p = 0.004), and hyper-homocysteinemia (p = 0.010) were significantly associated with symptomatic ischemic stroke. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that SWVmean combing serum homocysteine level (AUC = 0.67) presented better diagnostic value than serum homocysteine only (AUC = 0.60) for symptomatic ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: Supersonic shear imaging could be used to quantitatively evaluate stiffness of both echolucent and echogenic carotid plaques. More importantly, SWVs of plaques were not only correlated to serum homocysteine level, but also associated with symptomatic ischemic stroke, suggesting that SSI might be useful for understanding more about VP.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Area Under Curve , Biomarkers , Homocysteine , Lipoproteins , Logistic Models , ROC Curve , Stroke , TriglyceridesABSTRACT
Objective To estimate cervical stiffness during late pregnancy with virtual touch tissue quantification technique(VTQ) and investigate the value of predicting the outcome of labor induction. Methods Cervical length in pregnancy women at 35 -41 weeks′gestation was measured through perineum ultrasound examination before labor induction,and then VTQ was applied to measure shear wave velocity (SWV)values in region of interest(ROI),the maximum,minimum and average of SWV values were obtained from multiple SWV measurement under the VTQ mode. The outcomes of labor induction were tracked and Bishop scores were recorded,vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery groups were compared using Student′s t-test for continuous variables. ROC curve was plotted to analyze the correlation between parameters and the outcome of labor induction and to determine the most accurate SWV value and cut-off value for diagnosis.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine which of the following parameters were significant predictors of the outcome of labor induction. Results The SWV mix,SWV max and SWV mean of vaginal delivery and cesarean section were (0.92 ± 0.13)m/s,(1.37 ± 0.14)m/s,(1.13 ± 0.10)m/s and (1.03 ± 0.13)m/s,(1.74 ± 0.42)m/s,(1.36 ± 0.11)m/s,respectively, there were significant differences between vaginal delivery and cesarean section(all P < 0.05).Based on ROC curve analysis,the SWV mean value in cervix was the best value for predicting the outcome of labor induction.The cut-off value of SWV mean value was 1.23 m/s,the sensitivity,specificity and Youden index were 93.8%,83.4%,0.77,respectively.The SWV value and cervical length were closely correlated to the outcome of labor induction,especially the SWV value according to multivariate logistic analysis. Conclusions VTQ can assess the cervical stiffness with SWV values during pregnancy,and it may have an application value of predicting the outcome of labor induction.
ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the application of the correlation between spleen shear wave velocity (SWV) and portal vein pressure in evaluating short-term curative effect of interventional therapy for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).Methods The clinical data of a total of 30 BCS patients,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from May 2016 to October 2016 to receive treatment,were collected.The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was measured before as well as after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in all patients.Spleen SWV,the velocity and internal diameter as well as the velocity-to-diameter ratio of portal vein were calculated,the results were statistically analyzed.Results Technical success was achieved in all 30 patients.The mean HVPG score was strikingly reduced from preoperative (13.70±4.55)mmHg to postoperative (3.20±1.94) mmHg (P＜0.05).The preoperative and postoperative difference in HVPG had a parallel relationship with the preoperative and 2-day postoperative difference in spleen SWV as well as with the preoperative and 2-day postoperative difference in velocity-to-diameter ratio (r=0.856,P＜0.0001 and r=0.741,P＜0.0001 respectively).Conclusion A significant correlation exists between the spleen SWV and HVPG,therefore,SWV can be used as an effective index to evaluate the short-term curative effect of interventional treatment for BCS.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the application value of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) in the early recovery of transplant liver.Methods Nineteen patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were assigned into the study group and 12 healthy adults were recruited in the control group.In the study group,patients received bedside conventional ultrasound and ARFI examination at 1,2,3,5 and 7 d after liver transplantation to observe the change of transplant liver elasticity,and those in the control group underwent once conventional ultrasound and ARFI examination.Two-dimensional liver ultrasound,color Doppler ultrasound and ARFI findings were statistically compared between the study and control groups.Results Conventional ultrasound demonstrated that the liver graft was properly recovered within 1 week after liver transplantation.ARFI revealed that the shear ware velocity (SWV) at 1,2,3,5 and 7 d after liver transplantation was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P＜0.05).The SWV at postoperative 1 d was significantly higher than that at postoperative 7 d (P＜0.05).Conclusions ARFI can distinguish the liver stiffness between patients early after liver transplantation and healthy controls,and reflect the early variation of liver stiffness with good clinical application value.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in assessment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic fibrosis in rats.Methods Models with various degrees of NAFLD severity were conducted in 110 rats by feeding high fat emulsion.The right liver lobe of rat models were processed and embedded in a fabricated gelatin solution to measure the shear wave velocity (SWV) by ARFI.And the other liver lobes were used for histologic assessment.Based on NAFLD activity score (NAS),the final pathologic NAFLD diagnosis were considered as normal group (NAS=0),simple steatosis (SS) group (1≤NAS≤2),borderline (3≤NAS≤4) group and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group (NAS≥5).The diagnostic accuracy of the SWV parameters in evaluating NAFLD severity and fibrosis stages was studied using ROC curves.Results The difference of SWV values among normal group,SS group,borderline group and NASH group was statistically significant (F=31.53,P＜0.001).Taking SWV≥ 2.54 m/s as the diagnostic standard to differentiate normal rats from rats with SS,and SWV≥2.90 m/s to differentiate SS from NASH in rats,the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.922 (95％CI [0.871,0.973],P＜0.001) and 0.882 (95％ CI [0.807,0.956],P＜0.001) respectively.The sensitivity and specificity were 93.5 ％ and 100 ％ for differentiating normal and SS groups,83.3 ％ and 84.2 ％ for differentiating SS and NASH groups.Taking SWV≥3.48 m/s as cutoff to predict fibrosis (≥F2 stage),the AUC was 0.963 (95％CI [0.909,1.000],P＜0.001),the sensitivity was 92.9％ and the specificity was 97.6％.Taking SWV≥3.61 m/s as cutoff to predict severe fibrosis (≥F3 stage),the AUC was 0.997 (95％CI [0.990,1.000],P＜0.001),sensitivity was 100％ and specificity was 98.9％.The same high validity was maintained as in the prediction of cirrhosis (F4 stage) with the cutoff as SWV≥4.50 m/s,and the AUC was 0.993 (95％CI [0.982,1.000],P＜0.001),the sensitivity was 100 ％ and the specificity was 96.8％.Conclusion ARFI elastography is a promising method for differentiating the different severity of NAFLD and staging the degree of hepatic fibrosis with NAFLD in rat models.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the elasticity of normal placentas using the Virtual Touch quantification (VTQ) technique. METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Fifty randomly selected, healthy pregnant women in their second trimester and 50 randomly selected, healthy pregnant women in their third trimester with a single fetus were included, and their placentas underwent VTQ through shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements. The measurements were performed at different locations to sample different areas of the placenta. Measurements were performed 3-4 times in each location, the mean shear wave velocities were calculated without the highest and lowest values of measurements in each region, and the results were compared. RESULTS: The SWV of the placenta was 0.983±0.260 m/sec, and the minimal and maximal speed was 0.63 m/sec and 1.84 m/sec, respectively. There was no significant difference between the second and third trimester of VTQ of the placenta in terms of SWV (0.978±0.255 m/sec vs. 0.987±0.266 m/sec, P=0.711). The maternal age between second and third trimester was 27.9±4.3 years and 29.2±4.4 years, respectively; there was no significant difference between them (P=0.159). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the SWV of normal placenta tissue is 0.983±0.260 m/sec, it has little variation between the second and third trimesters, and the VTQ technique may potentially play an additional role in placenta evaluation.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Elasticity , Ethics Committees , Fetus , Maternal Age , Placenta , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Pregnant Women , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomarkers , Fibrosis , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis B, Chronic , Hepatitis , Liver Cirrhosis , LiverABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) and the kidney shear wave velocity (SWV) in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.Methods 150 cases of patients with diabetic mellitus were divided into three groups according to 24h urinary albumin excretion (Ualb):normalbuminuria (NA) group,microalbuminuria (MA) group and clinical proteinuria (CA) group;50 healthy subjects were selected as the control group (NC).The levels of blood BMP-7 were detected and the virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) was used to detect renal SWV in four groups.Both the BMP-7 level and the renal parenchyma SWV were compared among four groups.Then correlation analysis was made between blood of BMP-7 level and renal SWV in diabetic nephropathy groups.Results Blood BMP-7 level:the lowest was CA group,the middle one was MA group,and the highest was NA group (P ＜0.05),the NC group and the NA group had no significant difference (P ＞0.05); SWV measured values:CA group was the highest,MA group was middle one and the NA group was the lowest (P ＜ 0.05),the difference between NC group and the NA group was not significant statistically (P ＞0.05).The blood levels of BMP-7 and renal SWV had a significant negative correlation (r =-0.612,P ＜0.05).Conclusions The blood BMP-7 levels downregulate with the progressing of diabetic nephropathy,but the renal SWV increases with the diabetic nephropathy deterioration,and may indirectly reflects blood BMP-7 levels.Both of them have important application values in the diagnosis or treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
ABSTRACT
Purpose To investigate the influence on shear wave velocity (SWV) by different probe frequency, scanline angle and ROI depth. Materials and Methods The elasticity QA Phantoms was used in the study. First the SWV was measured by curve probe at depths of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm and 8 cm. The scanline angle changed from 0°from midline, 1°-15°, 16°-30°and 31°-45°. Then the SWV was measured again by using line probe at depths of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm. The measured data were analyzed statistically. Results The SWV showed difference by using the two probes (P<0.05). As depth increased, the measurement by curve probe changed from overestimate to underestimate, while the measurement by line probe always showed underestimate from standard value. When the curve probe was used, the angle and depth affected SWV interactively (F=85.87 and 35.96, P<0.01), and had interactive effects (F=17.63, P<0.01). When the scanline angle was within 15°, the angle had little inlfuence upon the measurement. When the scanline angle was 0 °, the measurement was the closest to the standard value at the depth of 4 cm, and the maximum deviation occurred at the depth of 5 cm. The inlfuence of depth upon measurement had signiifcant difference when the line probe was used (P<0.05). The measurement was the closest to the standard value at the depth of 1 cm, and the maximum deviation occurred at the depth of 4 cm. Conclusion Factors like probe frequency, scanline angle and ROI depth can affect the SWV. When the curve probe is used, the accurate measurement occurs at the depth of 4 cm when the scanline angle is within 15°. When the line probe is used, the accurate measurement occurs at the depth of 1 cm.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical application of liver shear wave velocity (SWV) in comparison with common serum score systems [AST to platelet ratio index (APRI),Forns,S index and FIB-4] in assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis.Methods A total of 237 chronic hepatitis patients with liver fibrosis confirmed by liver biopsy,who were admitted in Ningbo Second Hospital during October 2010 and April 2013,were enrolled in the study.Liver shear wave velocity were measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI),and the score of APRI,Forns,S index and FIB-4 were calculated based on the measurement of serum markers.Liver fibrosis stages were classified as S0-S4 according to the Scheuer scoring system,and stages ≥ S2 were identified as significant liver fibrosis.The diagnosis value of SWV,4 common score systems and their combination for significant liver fibrosis was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).Results A significant linear correlation was found between SWV and the stage of fibrosis (r =0.46,P ＜ 0.01).The areas under the ROCs of SWV and 4 common score systems (APRI,Forns,S index and FIB-4) for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis were 0.758 (0.696-0.821),0.727 (0.662-0.793),0.777 (0.717-0.836),0.747 (0.684-0.810) and 0.737 (0.673-0.802),respectively.The area under the ROC of the combined prediction nodel established with Logistic regression was 0.810.Conclusion Liver shear wave velocity measured by ARFI is of clinical value in noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis,and the prediction accuracy can be improved when it is combined with other noninvasive indices.
ABSTRACT
Objective To obtain the shear wave velocity(SWV) in breast tumors at different probe orientations.Methods SWV was measured on 92 breast tumors in 48 female patients with the probe placed on transverse,longitudinal and 45 degree planes.Pathological test results were followed up.Results Pathological tests showed benign tumors in 48 patients (92 tumors).Of the three planes,values of the biggest and the smallest SWV showed significant difference (P ＜0.001).Conclusions SWV differs on different planes of breast tumors.So the effect in different probe orientations should be considered using SWV for the differential diagnosis of breast tumors.