Two-dimensional shear wave elastography with propagation-based reliability assessment for grading hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine the diagnostic ability of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) with propagation-based reliability for grading of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension.

Methods: This prospective study (UMIN000022838) consisted of 135 subjects. Phase I (n = 40) examined the effect of standard deviation (SD)/median as the reliability criterion of 2D-SWE, and phase II (n = 95) compared the diagnostic ability of 2D-SWE under the best SD/median value and transient elastography (TE).

Results: Phase I reported 0.49 as a best cut-off SD/median value. In phase II, the elasticity showed a correlation between the 2D-SWE and TE (r = 0.88, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was comparable between the 2D-SWE and TE (0.936 and 0.948 for chronic hepatitis, P = 0.34; 0.939 and 0.956 for cirrhosis, P = 0.25). The hepatic venous pressure gradient showed a positive correlation with the 2D-SWE (r = 0.435, P = 0.043) and TE (r = 0.378, P = 0.083) in 22 patients. The AUROC was comparable between the 2D-SWE (0.844 for ≥10 mmHg, 0.838 for ≥12 mmHg) and TE (0.781 for ≥10 mmHg, P = 0.484; 0.800 for ≥12 mmHg, P = 0.589).

Conclusions: 2D-SWE is promising for the assessment of the grade of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension, with the SD/median value as a reliability criterion.

Keywords: Elastography; Hepatic fibrosis; Portal hypertension.