Guided-VCTE: An Enhanced FibroScan Examination With Improved Guidance and Applicability

Although FibroScan (FS), based on Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE), is a widely used non-invasive device for assessing liver fibrosis and steatosis, its current standard-VCTE examination remains timely and difficult on patients with obesity. The Guided-VCTE examination uses continuous shear waves to locate the liver by providing a real-time predictive indicator for shear wave propagation and uses shear wave maps averaging to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in difficult to assess patients. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the new indicator, as well as compare examination times and success rates with both standard-VCTE and Guided-VCTE examinations.

We recruited 130 patients all with varying BMI in this multicenter study. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values assessed the new indicator effectiveness. Success rates were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests rates and time-to-event analyses were used to investigate examination times. Agreement and repeatability of both methods were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

The new indicator was highly effective, with a 97% sensitivity for predicting valid liver stiffness measurements (LSM). LSM and controlled attenuation parameter results remained in good agreement between two examinations. The Guided-VCTE examination significantly increased the success rate of individual measurements and significantly reduced the time required for localization in the study cohort, especially in patients with grade 2 obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m²). Additionally, the proportion of patients scanned in less than 4 minutes was significantly higher with the Guided-VCTE examination.

Guided-VCTE is a new effective technique that simplifies further FS use, particularly for patients with obesity.