Normal range of liver stiffness measurement in healthy people
Abstract
The article focuses on normative values of the liver shear wave elastography and comparison of various works in elastography of the international and Russian research. A variety of normal values of liver stiffness during shear wave elastography obtained by different authors when measuring on various devices are presented. The normal range of liver stiffness measurements in healthy people varies widely: the normal liver elasticity values may vary in range of 1.5—7.5 kPa on measuring by transient elastography (FibroScan, Echosens); 2.4—6.2 kPa on measuring by point shear wave elastography (iU elite, Philips); 2.6—6.2 kPa on measuring by 2D shear wave elastography (Aixplorer, Supersonic Imagine). The liver shear wave velocity varies in the range of 0.71—1.71 m/s on measuring by the point shear wave elastography. The given data of the normal liver stiffness measurement and shear wave velocity in healthy people could not be taken as the reference data for assessing the normal values. Consensus is needed on the subject of normal values of the liver stiffness measurements and shear wave velocity in the liver tissue. Considering the discrepancy between the results of normal liver stiffness values in the sonographic equipment of various manufacturers dynamic observation upon liver stiffness values should be performed using the same machine in the same individual on the depth of 2—5 cm from liver capsule, preferably by the same operator. Caution should be given while using threshold values of the normal liver stiffness on different equipment because it influences the assessment of the liver stiffness measurements and, consequently fibrosis stage.