Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate reproducibility of measurements of spleen stiffness (SS) and liver stiffness (LS) at several sites by using point shear wave elastography (pSWE) and to investigate any training effect. Methods: Healthy volunteers were consecutively enrolled. Measurements of SS and LS were performed by an expert (observer 1) and a novice (observer 2) at three different sites of liver and spleen. To assess the effect of training the study was conducted in two periods (period 1 and period 2). Concordance correlation coefficient was used to assess intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility. Results: A total of 92 subjects (67 men and 25 women) were enrolled in the study. Both intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were higher for the liver than for the spleen. Overall, the highest intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were obtained for the assessment of LS through intercostal space, and for measurements at this site there was a significantly better performance of observer 2 after the training period. For both observers, training improved the repeatability of SS measurements at all sites. A good intra-observer agreement was obtained only for measurements at the spleen lower pole. Conclusions: The results of this study show that a learning curve in pSWE acquisition should be taken into account both for SS and LS measurements. Key Points: • Reproducibility of SS measurements depends on the expertise of the operator. • To achieve good reproducibility between measurements a training period is required. • A learning curve in pSWE acquisition should be taken into account. • SS measurements are less reproducible than LS measurements.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1283-1289 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | European Radiology |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
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Keywords
- Concordance correlation coefficient
- Liver
- Reproducibility studies
- Shearwave elastography
- Spleen
- Ultrasound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Cite this
Ultrasound point shear wave elastography assessment of liver and spleen stiffness : Effect of training on repeatability of measurements. / Ferraioli, Giovanna; Tinelli, Carmine; Lissandrin, Raffaella; Zicchetti, Mabel; Bernuzzi, Stefano; Salvaneschi, Laura; Filice, Carlo.
In: European Radiology, Vol. 24, No. 6, 2014, p. 1283-1289.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ultrasound point shear wave elastography assessment of liver and spleen stiffness
T2 - Effect of training on repeatability of measurements
AU - Ferraioli, Giovanna
AU - Tinelli, Carmine
AU - Lissandrin, Raffaella
AU - Zicchetti, Mabel
AU - Bernuzzi, Stefano
AU - Salvaneschi, Laura
AU - Filice, Carlo
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objectives: To evaluate reproducibility of measurements of spleen stiffness (SS) and liver stiffness (LS) at several sites by using point shear wave elastography (pSWE) and to investigate any training effect. Methods: Healthy volunteers were consecutively enrolled. Measurements of SS and LS were performed by an expert (observer 1) and a novice (observer 2) at three different sites of liver and spleen. To assess the effect of training the study was conducted in two periods (period 1 and period 2). Concordance correlation coefficient was used to assess intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility. Results: A total of 92 subjects (67 men and 25 women) were enrolled in the study. Both intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were higher for the liver than for the spleen. Overall, the highest intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were obtained for the assessment of LS through intercostal space, and for measurements at this site there was a significantly better performance of observer 2 after the training period. For both observers, training improved the repeatability of SS measurements at all sites. A good intra-observer agreement was obtained only for measurements at the spleen lower pole. Conclusions: The results of this study show that a learning curve in pSWE acquisition should be taken into account both for SS and LS measurements. Key Points: • Reproducibility of SS measurements depends on the expertise of the operator. • To achieve good reproducibility between measurements a training period is required. • A learning curve in pSWE acquisition should be taken into account. • SS measurements are less reproducible than LS measurements.
AB - Objectives: To evaluate reproducibility of measurements of spleen stiffness (SS) and liver stiffness (LS) at several sites by using point shear wave elastography (pSWE) and to investigate any training effect. Methods: Healthy volunteers were consecutively enrolled. Measurements of SS and LS were performed by an expert (observer 1) and a novice (observer 2) at three different sites of liver and spleen. To assess the effect of training the study was conducted in two periods (period 1 and period 2). Concordance correlation coefficient was used to assess intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility. Results: A total of 92 subjects (67 men and 25 women) were enrolled in the study. Both intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were higher for the liver than for the spleen. Overall, the highest intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were obtained for the assessment of LS through intercostal space, and for measurements at this site there was a significantly better performance of observer 2 after the training period. For both observers, training improved the repeatability of SS measurements at all sites. A good intra-observer agreement was obtained only for measurements at the spleen lower pole. Conclusions: The results of this study show that a learning curve in pSWE acquisition should be taken into account both for SS and LS measurements. Key Points: • Reproducibility of SS measurements depends on the expertise of the operator. • To achieve good reproducibility between measurements a training period is required. • A learning curve in pSWE acquisition should be taken into account. • SS measurements are less reproducible than LS measurements.
KW - Concordance correlation coefficient
KW - Liver
KW - Reproducibility studies
KW - Shearwave elastography
KW - Spleen
KW - Ultrasound
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84901687839&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84901687839&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00330-014-3140-y
DO - 10.1007/s00330-014-3140-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 24643497
AN - SCOPUS:84901687839
VL - 24
SP - 1283
EP - 1289
JO - European Radiology
JF - European Radiology
SN - 0938-7994
IS - 6
ER -