Preliminary Study Of The Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging Technology In The Application Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Purpose:1. To explore the application value of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging technology (ARFI) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).2. Elasticity of liver is measured by using ARFI technology in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver at several regions of interest. To find the changes of ARFI values in the fatty liver in order to provide new clinical observation indexes. At the same time, to find the region of interest which can differentiate the degree of fatty liver best.Materials and Methods:121cases that were suffered from nonalcoholic liver disease or healthy controls were collected during the period from August2012to March2013, in Health Management Center, outpatient, and inpatient of Central South University Xiangya Hospital.65cases were males and56were females. Ages ranged from10to83.10cases were excluded in this study.In this study, we were using Siemens Acuson S2000ultrasound diagnostic apparatus with acoustic radiation force impulse imaging technology and a4C1convex array probe (1.0～4.0MHz). Right liver lobe was chosen through right intercostal oblique section and left liver lobe through subxiphoid sagittal section. Regions of interest were placed at4cm,6cm,8cm from the probe. ARFI measurement was used at least5times for each site and the average value was calculated.Results:1. ARFI values were observed more easily in the right liver lobe than left liver lobe.2. ARFI mean values were lower in the NAFLD group than the normal group at3sites of the right liver,3sites of the left liver and6sites of whole liver (P<0.05). 3. The ARFI values were of no significant differences between NAFLD group and control group at4cm of right liver lobe and4cm,6cm of left liver lobe (P>0.05). ARFI values were lower in the NAFLD group than the normal group at6cm,8cm of right liver lobe and8cm of left liver lobe (P<0.05). At6cm of right liver lobe, ARFI values reduced gradually with the aggravation of fatty liver, and at8cm of right liver lobe, ARFI values decreased significantly.Conclusion:1. The average ARFI value measured by multipoints can distinguish normal liver from nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. The average ARFI values in the NAFLD group were lower than that of normal group at3sites of the right liver and3sites of the left liver,6sites of whole liver.2. ARFI value decreased with the aggravation of fatty liver at6cm and8cm of right liver lobe.3. The region of interest located in6cm of right liver lobe can be used to evaluate the degree of fatty liver preferably.