Attenuation of Shear Waves in Normal and Steatotic Livers

Shear wave propagation in the liver has been a robust subject of research, with shear wave speed receiving the most attention. The correlation between increased shear wave speed and increased fibrosis in the liver has been established as a useful diagnostic tool. In comparison, the precise mechanisms of shear wave attenuation, and its relation to diseased states of the liver, are less well-established. This study focused on the hypothesis that steatosis adds a viscous (lossy) component to the liver, which increases shear wave attenuation. Twenty patients' livers were scanned with ultrasound and with induced shear wave propagation, and the resulting displacement profiles were analyzed using recently developed estimators to derive both the speed and attenuation of the shear waves within 6-cm² regions of interest. The results were compared with pathology scores obtained from liver biopsies taken under ultrasound guidance. Across these cases, increases in shear wave attenuation were linked to increased steatosis score. This preliminary study supports the hypothesis and indicates the possible utility of the measurements for non-invasive and quantitative assessment of steatosis.