Comparison of Liver Shear Wave Elastography Measurements using Siemens Acuson S3000, GE LOGIQ E9, Philips EPIQ7 and Toshiba Aplio 500 (Software Versions 5.0 and 6.0) in Healthy Volunteers.

AIM

To compare ARFI-based elastography procedures of the GE LOGIQ E9, Philips EPIQ7, and Toshiba Aplio 500 (versions 5.0 and 6.0) ultrasound scanners with the Siemens Acuson S3000 reference scanner in subjects with healthy livers, taking various impact factors into account.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study consisted of two subsequent study parts. Study 1 (n = 205) evaluated the 2D-SWE techniques of GE and Toshiba 5.0 and the pSWE technique of the Philips scanner against the reference scanner Siemens. Study 2 (n = 113) evaluated Toshiba 6.0 against Siemens in a different cohort. Out of 433 study participants in both studies, 318 (M:F = 122:196) met the inclusion criteria. Elastography measurements were performed in the right lobe of the liver at depths of 3, 5 and 7 cm. At each depth, five measurements were acquired with the Siemens and Philips scanners and one measurement each with the GE and Toshiba machines.

RESULTS

The Philips (r = 0.58, p < 0.0001) and the GE (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) scanners showed the strongest correlation of shear wave velocities between Siemens and comparator scanners, at a depth of 5 cm. We found the strongest relationship with Toshiba (software version 6.0) at a depth of 3 cm (r = 0.57, p < 0.0001). Toshiba software version 5.0 did not give satisfactory results. The factors of sex and BMI showed scanner-specific differences in the values measured (p < 0.05). The age of the subjects did not seem to have any effect.

CONCLUSION

With the exception of Toshiba software version 5.0, all of the scanners we tested can be recommended without reservation for comparative ultrasound elastography of the healthy liver at measurement depths of 3 cm up to 5 cm.