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Novel quantitative assessment system of liver steatosis using a newly developed attenuation measurement method
Author(s) -
Tamaki Nobuharu,
Koizumi Yohei,
Hirooka Masashi,
Yada Norihisa,
Takada Hitomi,
Nakashima Osamu,
Kudo Masatoshi,
Hiasa Yoichi,
Izumi Namiki
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.13179
Subject(s) - steatosis , liver steatosis , medicine , receiver operating characteristic , liver biopsy , fatty liver , chronic hepatitis , attenuation , gastroenterology , biopsy , nuclear medicine , physics , virus , disease , virology , optics
Aim The present study has developed and evaluated the effectiveness of a new echo attenuation measurement function combined with an ultrasonic diagnostic system for the accurate diagnosis of liver steatosis. Methods A multicenter prospective study involving patients with chronic hepatitis was carried out. All patients underwent liver biopsy, and attenuation coefficient (ATT) was measured on the same day. The fat area (%) of biopsy specimens was quantitatively evaluated. Correlations between ATT, steatosis grade, and fat area were evaluated. Results A total of 351 patients were enrolled in this study. The median values of fat area for steatosis grades S0, S1, S2, and S3 were 0.6%, 3.2%, 6.4%, and 15.5%, respectively. A significant correlation was found between fat area and steatosis grade ( P < 0.001). Similarly, the median values of ATT for steatosis grades S0, S1, S2, and S3 were 0.55, 0.63, 0.69, and 0.85 dB/cm/MHz, respectively, and ATT increased with an increase in the steatosis grade ( P < 0.001). Attenuation coefficient was significantly correlated with fat area (r = 0.50, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve corresponding to S ≥ 1, S ≥ 2, and S ≥ 3 were 0.79, 0.87, and 0.96, respectively. Similarly, the sensitivity and specificity of S ≥ 1, S ≥ 2, and S ≥ 3 were 72%, 82%, and 87% and 72%, 82%, and 89%, respectively. Conclusions The newly developed ATT measurement for evaluation of liver steatosis was closely correlated with steatosis grade and automated quantification of fat area, and it provides clinically relevant information.