Non-invasive diagnostics of extrahepatic portal hypertension in children

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The primary method for diagnosing gastroesophageal bleeding in varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach in children is fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy. This study investigates the possibilities of 2D shear wave elastography stiffness of the spleen to determine esophageal varicose veins in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the effectiveness of the method of two-dimensional elastography by shear wave stiffness of the spleen was conducted in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension in 39 children (main group) and 11 healthy children (control group). All patients initially underwent fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy followed by ultrasound, including 2D shear wave stiffness elastography of the spleen. Spleen stiffness was then compared with clinical symptoms, the degree of esophageal varices, and other sonographic parameters.
 RESULTS: According to elastography data, the spleen stiffness index in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension was 43.98 3.8 kPa, significantly higher than in the control group children (p = 0.006). Spleen stiffness measurements significantly correlated with the degree of esophageal varices in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension (r = 0.57, p = 0.0002). According to the endoscopy results in seven patients after vascular bypass surgery, esophageal varicose veins were not detected. Nevertheless, spleen stiffness in these children remained significantly higher than in the control group (27 3.9 kPa and 18 1.2 kPa, respectively, p = 0.05).
 CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that 2D stiffness shear wave elastography of the spleen effectively assesses esophageal varices in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension. This method is also convenient to monitor the reduction of varicose veins after surgical treatment and is a possible alternative to endoscopy, especially in young children.