科研之友
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摘要
Objective: To assess the inter- and intra-observer variability of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) quantification in liver segments with influence of age, body mass index (BMI) and liver capsule-to-box (CB) distance.
Methods: 10 healthy volunteers were examined twice, by three experienced operators, separated by a 1-week interval. 10 readings were obtained, from segments 3, 5/6 and 7/8. Age, BMI and the CB distance were noted. The Cronbach alpha statistic for analysis of reliability was performed for the inter- and intra-observer studies. Multivariate linear regression models determined significance of the other parameters.
Results: 1800 velocity measurements were recorded. Mean values +/- standard deviation: segment 3, 1.31 +/- 0.19m s(-1); segment 5/6, 1.12 +/- 0.22m s(-1); segment 7/8, 1.12 +/- 0.17m s(-1). For both the inter- and intra-observer study, the Cronbach alpha statistic was >= 0.7 (reliable) when taken from segments 5/6 and 7/8 but <0.7 (unreliable) for segment 3. BMI and age showed significant (p < 0.0001) but contrasting correlation (segment 5/6: BMI r = 0.02, age r = -0.02; segment 7/8: BMI r = -0.01, age r = 0.01) with ARFI velocities when analysed for the segments deemed reliable. A weak negative correlation between ARFI velocities and liver CB distance was demonstrated for both assessed segments (segment 5/6, r = -0.08; segment 7/8, r = -0.06; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: With trained operators, ARFI is a reliable and reproducible method of liver stiffness quantification in segments 5/6 and 7/8 but acquisition of measurements from segment 3 should be avoided. Values obtained deeper to the liver capsule allow more reliable liver stiffness quantification.
- 出版日期2012-10
