Accuracy of attenuation coefficient measurement (ACM) for real-time ultrasound hepatic steatometry: Comparison of simulator/phantom data with magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF)

Nazarii Kobyliak; Oleh Dynnyk; Maryana Savytska; Oleksandr Solodovnyk; Oleksandr Zakomornyi; Oleksii Оmеlchenko; Anton Kushnir; Roman Titorenko

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20642

Accuracy of attenuation coefficient measurement (ACM) for real-time ultrasound hepatic steatometry: Comparison of simulator/phantom data with magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF)

Heliyon. 2023 Oct 4;9(10):e20642. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20642. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Nazarii Kobyliak^{1

2}, Oleh Dynnyk³, Maryana Savytska⁴, Oleksandr Solodovnyk⁵, Oleksandr Zakomornyi⁵, Oleksii Оmеlchenko⁵, Anton Kushnir⁶, Roman Titorenko⁶

Affiliations

¹ Endocrinology Department, Bogomolets National Medical University, 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine.
² Medical Laboratory CSD, 03022, Kyiv, Ukraine.
³ Medical Center "Institute of elastography" LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine.
⁴ Normal Physiology Department, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine.
⁵ Medical Center "Varta" of "Vision Partner" LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine.
⁶ Mediscan Group" LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of real time ultrasound (US) steatometry with the Attenuation Coefficient (AC) measurement in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging with proton density software module (MRI-PDFF).

Methods: This study was conducted between January 2021 and October 2021. The comparison of instrumental methods for assessing and grading hepatic steatosis using a multimodal phantom simulator of different fat and water ratios was performed. The study involved 3 radiological centers. The steatophantom was simultaneously investigated using three methods: magnetic resonance imaging with proton density software module (MRI-PDFF) and 128-slice multidetector computed tomography, and then by 2 different US scanner for steatosis assessment via Measurement Attenuation Imaging (ATI) ant Attenuation Coefficient Measurement (ACM).

Results: Modeling of hepatic steatosis using a series of phantom simulators allows evidence-based medicine to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the latest US techniques for steatosis. The ACM and ATI of both US systems on phantoms correlated well with each other and with MRI-PDFF and, thus, can provide good diagnostic value in the assessment of hepatic steatosis. MDCT was less sensitive to mild steatosis than AC and MRI-PDFF.

Conclusion: Measurement of ACs in US studies by devices from different vendors compared to other modalities of radiological imaging (MDCT and MRI-PDFF) by special phantoms is an accurate and promising method for noninvasive quantification of hepatic steatosis.

Keywords: Attenuation coefficient; Hand held US device; Liver steatosis; MRI-PDFF; POCUS; Ultrasound.