Characterizing liver stiffness with acoustic radiation force

Acoustic radiation force elasticity imaging (ARFI) methods have become a viable clinical option to noninvasively evaluate the stiffness of the liver to evaluate fibrosis stage. Unlike external vibration-based methods such as transient elastography, acoustic radiation force excitations can be focused directly in the tissue of interest, while also providing real-time, ultrasonic B-mode imaging guidance and clinical evaluation. Acoustic radiation force methods are also available to screen for and characterize liver masses. Efforts to standardize and provide more consistent measurements between different manufacturer systems is being addressed by consensus documents and guideline documents, and the RSNA QIBA Ultrasonic Shear Wave Speed group is taking important steps toward characterizing the performance of these systems in calibrated elastic and viscoelastic media.

Duke Scholars

Author Mark L. Palmeri Biomedical Engineering