Shear wave elastography in assessment of liver stiffness and prediction of gastro-esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

BackgroundShear wave elastography is an ultrasound applied technique used to measure tissue stiffness as a result of a disease. So, it can be used to evaluate liver stiffness as a result of liver cirrhosis and could correlate it with esophageal varices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of shear wave elastography for assessment of liver stiffness and predicting the presence of gastro-esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis.ResultsUltrasound liver changes were seen in 100% of the included patients. Color Doppler revealed porto-systemic collaterals in 20% patients. Shear wave elastography could differentiate cases from control with cutoff value of 13.1 kPa. There was a significant correlation between shear wave elastography and ultrasound changes in cirrhotic patients. Endoscopy found more number of esophageal (44%) and gastric varices (10%) as liver stiffness increase. Gastro-esophageal varices are detected in 32 (53.33%) cirrhotic patients. Shear wave elastography could predict presence of gastro-esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients with a cutoff value of 26.5 kPa and sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 85%.ConclusionShear wave elastography is an important non-invasive radiological method for assessment of liver stiffness and prediction of the presence of gastro-esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.