Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Application of Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography Imaging in a Rat Model of NAFLD/NASH
Published on: April 20, 2021
Noninvasive assessment of hepatic sinusoidal obstructive syndrome using acoustic radiation force impulse elastography
So Hyun Park1,2, Seung Soo Lee3, Ji-Youn Sung4
1Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Korea.
Objectives:
To determine the feasibility of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in the evaluation of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in rat models.
Methods:
Rat SOS models of various severities were created by monocrotaline gavage (n = 40) or by intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) (n = 16). Liver shear-wave velocity (SWV) was measured using ARFI elastography. Liver samples were analysed for the SOS score, steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis.
Results:
The liver SWV was significantly elevated in the SOS models (1.29-2.24 m/s) compared with that of the matched control rats (1.01-1.09; p≤.09; veFor seven FOLFOX-treated rats which were longitudinally followed-up, the liver SWV significantly increased at 7 weeks (1.32±0.13 m/s) compared with the baseline (1.08±0.1 m/s, p=.015) and then significantly declined after a 2-week, treatment-free period (1.15±0.13 m/s; p=.048). Multivariate analysis revealed that the SOS score (p<.001) and lobular inflammation (p=.044) were independently correlated with the liver SWV.
Conclusion:
Liver SWV is elevated in SOS in proportion to the degree of sinusoidal injury and lobular inflammation in rat SOS models. ARFI elastography has potential as an examination for diagnosis, severity assessment and follow-up of SOS.
Key Points:
• Liver SWV using ARFI elastography was significantly elevated in SOS rat. • Sinusoidal injury and lobular inflammation grades had correlation with liver SWV. • ARFI elastography has potential for diagnosis, severity assessment, and follow-up of SOS.

