Learning objectives
Describe an Ultrasound 2D shear wave elastography (SWE) procedure with QElaXto 2D (Esaote S.p.A., Genova, Italy) for the liver stiffness evaluation in order to get a reliable assessment of the liver disease severity.
Provide the descriptions and the illustrations of the technical and practical aspects to perform a correct procedure, then select the correct samples for a reliable quantification.
Background
The Elastographic techniques are rapidly becoming the method of choice for the assessment of liver fibrosis, replacing liver biopsy for more than ten years for diagnosis, follow-up and treatment monitoring.
Stiffness and Elasticity
Tissues have proper elasticity that can be studied to provide to the clinicians some information about the liver disease.
Elasticity is the property of a material or a tissue to deform under a given stress and then to restore to its original shape after distortion.
Tissue Elasticity and Shear Waves
The 2D...
Findings and procedure details
Description of the technology Esaote QElaXto 2D to understand the information displayed during the stiffness assessment and the outcomes.
Description of the practical and technical aspect of the method – regarding the patient position, the probe position, the field of view (FOV)stiffness box and the samples of measurements called region of interest (ROI).
Description of the quality parameters.
Esaote QElaXto 2D Technology
QElaXto 2D is a SWE Technique from Esaote (S.p.A., Genoa, Italy).
QElaXto 2D, available on the ultrasound platform MyLab™9eXP, can provide quantitative liver...
Conclusion
Knowledge of technical and practical aspects is crucial for the correct application of 2D-SWE and to perform proper measurements of the liver stiffness.
The real-time feedback tools like the dispersion map and the rejection parameter provided by QElaXto 2D (Esaote S.p.A., Italy) can be useful to improve the diagnostic confidence.
Personal information and conflict of interest
F. Labb; Genoa/IT - Author at Esaote S.p.A. - Employee at Esaote S.p.A. L. Maiocchi; Pavia, ITALY/IT - Author at Policlinico San Matteo - Pavia D. Carlini; Genoa/IT - Author at Esaote S.p.A. - Employee at Esaote S.p.A. G. Gauthier; Genoa/IT - Author at Esaote S.p.A. - Employee at Esaote S.p.A. A. Raimondi; Marcignago/IT - Author at Policlinico San Matteo - Pavia C. Dellafiore; Pavia/IT - Author at Policlinico San Matteo - Pavia C. Filice; Pavia/IT - Author at Policlinico San Matteo - Pavia
References
[1] Bamber J, Cosgrove D, Dietrich CF, Fromageau J, Bojunga J, Calliada F, Cantisani V, Correas JM, D'Onofrio M, Drakonaki EE, Fink M, Friedrich-Rust M, Gila OH, Havre RF, Jenssen C, Klauser AS, Ohlinger R, Saftoiu A, Schaefer F, Sporea I, Piscaglia F, "EFSUMB guidelines and recomendations on the clinical use of ultrasound elastography. Part 1: Basic principles and technology" ultraschall Med2013 apr; 34(2):169-84. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1335205
[2] Ferraioli G, Parekh P, Levitov A.B., Filice C, "Shear wave Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Fibrosis", J Ultrasound Med2014;...