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

作者：Rizzo Leonardo; Attanasio Massimo; Pinzone Marilia Rita; Berretta Massimiliano; Malaguarnera Michele; Morra Aldo; L' Abbate Luca; Balestreri Luca; Nunnari Giuseppe; Cacopardo Bruno^*

来源：Biomed Research International, 2014, 2014: 365982.

DOI：10.1155/2014/365982

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 (2.19m/s, P %26lt; 0.001), CHC patients (2.37 m/s, P %26lt; 0.001), and cirrhotic patients without EV (2.7m/s, P %26lt; 0.001). Moreover, VTTQ-SS was significantly higher among cirrhotic patients without EV in comparison with both controls (P %26lt; 0.001) and CHC patients (P %26lt; 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.

• 出版日期2014