A new sampling method for spleen stiffness measurement based on quantitative acoustic radiation force impulse elastography for noninvasive assessment of esophageal varices in newly diagnosed HCV-related cirrhosis

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:365982. doi: 10.1155/2014/365982. Epub 2014 Mar 4.

Abstract

In our study, we evaluated the feasibility of a new sampling method for splenic stiffness (SS) measurement by Quantitative Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography (Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTTQ)).We measured SS in 54 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis of whom 28 with esophageal varices (EV), 27 with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) F1-F3, and 63 healthy controls. VTTQ-SS was significantly higher among cirrhotic patients with EV (3.37 m/s) in comparison with controls (2.19 m/s, P<0.001), CHC patients (2.37 m/s, P<0.001), and cirrhotic patients without EV (2.7 m/s, P<0.001). Moreover, VTTQ-SS was significantly higher among cirrhotic patients without EV in comparison with both controls (P<0.001) and CHC patients (P<0.01). The optimal VTTQ-SS cut-off value for predicting EV was 3.1 m/s (AUROC=0.96, sensitivity 96.4%, specificity 88.5%, positive predictive value 90%, negative predictive value 96%, positive likelihood ratio 8.36, and negative likelihood ratio 0.04). In conclusion, VTTQ-SS is a promising noninvasive and reliable diagnostic tool to screen cirrhotic patients for EV and reduce the need for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. By using our cut-off value of 3.1 m/s, we would avoid endoscopy in around 45% of cirrhotic subjects, with significant time and cost savings.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Esophageal and Gastric Varices / complications
  • Esophageal and Gastric Varices / diagnostic imaging*
  • Esophageal and Gastric Varices / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / diagnostic imaging
  • Hepatitis C / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sample Size
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spleen / diagnostic imaging
  • Spleen / physiopathology*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Ultrasonography