Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Diseases using 2D Shear Wave Elastography

Abstract

There has been great interest in the development of non-invasive techniques for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, including ultrasound elastographic methods. Some of these methods have already been adequately studied for the non-invasive assessment of diffuse liver diseases. Others, however, such as two-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography (SWE), of more recent appearance, have yet to be validated and some aspects are for the moment incompletely elucidated. This review discusses some of the aspects related to two-dimensional SWE: the examination technique, the examination performance indicators, intra and interobserver agreement and clinical applications. Recommendations for a high-quality examination technique are formulated.

Key words:  –  –  – Two-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography.

Abbreviations: 2D- SWE: Two-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography; 3D- SWE: Three-dimensional Shear Wave Elastography; AUROC: area under the receiver operating characteristic curves; ARFI Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography; EFSUMB: European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology; HVPG: hepatic venous pressure gradient; LS: liver stiffness; LR: likelihood ratio; NPV: negative predictive value; PPV: positive predictive value; ROI: region of interest; RT-E: Real Time-Elastography; Se: sensitivity; Sp: specificity; TE: Transient Elastography; US: ultrasound; VM: valid measurement; E: Young’s modulus