EVALUATION OF LIVER ELASTICITY USING pSWE AND 2D-SWE TECHNIQUES IN HEALTHY CHILDREN

Abstract

Objective Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a new ultrasonography technique that can non-invasively evaluate liver stiffness. The efficacy of SWE in adults has been demonstrated by numerous studies, but there are few SWE studies of pediatric groups. Since the liver stiffness values (LSV) vary according to the device and the SWE method used, standard reference values have not been established as yet. The aim of this study was to establish the reference values of normal liver stiffness in healthy children according to the two SWE methods. Materials and Method Liver stiffness values were measured using the two different SWE methods of point SWE (pSWE) and 2-dimensional SWE (2D-SWE) in 107 healthy children aged 8-18 years with no liver disease. The pSWE (EPQ) and 2D-SWE (EQI) measurements were taken in one session on the same device (Philips Epiq Elite) and after at least 4 hours of fasting. The effects on liver elasticity values were investigated of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), some biochemical markers (such as fasting blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, platelet, INR) and liver size. Results The mean LSV was 4.04±0.84kPa ((95% confidence interval (CI):3.67-4.42)) on pSWE and 4.41±0.71kPa (95% CI:4.09-4.72) on 2D-SWE. The upper limit LSVs were found to be 4.42kPa and 4.72kPa, respectively. The LSVs measured on 2D-SWE were found to be higher than on pSWE ((median; min-max, 4.34kPa; 2.82-6kPa and 3.86kPa; 2.55–5.78, respectively, (r=0.59, p