Reproducibility of Shear Wave Velocity Measurements by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging of the Liver

Abstract

Objectives The purposes of this study were to investigate interobserver reproducibility using acoustic radiation force impulse imaging and to develop an acoustic radiation force impulse scoring system. Methods Fifty healthy volunteers with normal liver function test values were selected for the study. Shear wave velocity measurements, expressed in meters per second, were taken in a deep portion of liver segment 6. Two observers with different levels of experience performed the measurements independently and blindly. Results All of the measurements taken by the 2 observers were valid, even in volunteers with a body mass index of greater than 28 kg/m². The results point to very good interobserver reproducibility of shear wave velocity measurements, with an intraclass coefficient correlation of 0.86 (P < .001). Conclusions The results of this study show that shear wave velocity measurements using the acoustic radiation force impulse technique and a standardized protocol are accurate and reproducible.