Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging in paediatric patients: normal liver values
Hugo Matos1, Ana Trindade, Maria J Noruegas
1*Pediatric Hospital, Medical Imaging Department and Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Coimbra, Coimbra †Science and Technology Faculty, University Nova of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to obtain a normal value for liver shear wave velocities (SWVs) in healthy paediatric patients and to investigate variations concerning age, sex, and different approaches, depths, and lobes of measurements.
Methods:
A total of 150 healthy children (2 months-17 years) were examined with acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology by an experienced paediatric radiologist, after receiving an informed consent. Measurements obtained were divided according to group age (n = 50, 0-5 years; n = 50, 6-11 years; n = 50, 12-17 years); sex (male-female); lobe (right-left lobe); approach (intercostal-subcostal), and depth of measurements (1-5 and 5-6 cm for the youngest group; 2-6 to 6-8 cm for the 2 other groups). Comparative analyses were performed with measurements obtained at right and left lobes, with different depths and approaches. Differences between age and sex were also analysed.
Results:
Mean SWV in the right liver lobe was 1.07 ± 0.10 m/s. No significant differences were found according to sex or among different probe locations. SWVs were, however, significantly higher within left lobe in comparison with right liver lobe (1.07 ± 0.10 m/s, right; 1.21 ± 0.16 m/s, left). Depth of measurements also influenced SWV values obtained, being slightly lower at deeper locations. Regarding the age significant differences were found for children <6 years old compared with other age groups.
Conclusions:
ARFI analysis seems to be influenced by age, depth, and lobe of measurements. A mean SWV value of 1.07 ± 0.10 m/s for healthy paediatric population with the possibility of reaching 1.12 m/s in the case of younger children was found. ARFI values were more consistently obtained analysing right liver lobe and depths lower than 5 to 6 cm.
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