Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40668373›Full record

ArticlePediatric radiology2025

Diagnostic performance and reproducibility of shear wave elastography techniques for liver stiffness assessment in children with biliary atresia.

Manli Fu, Chao Geng, Liqiong Shi, Jiaoyan Tan, Han Jing, Xueqiang Yan, Li Yuan

Erratum issuedAbstract read
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Article in Pediatric radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Manli Fu *Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Chao Geng *Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Liqiong ShiWuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Jiaoyan TanWuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Han JingWuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Xueqiang YanWuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China. yanxueqiang1@163.com.
Li YuanWuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China. yuanli1206@163.com.

Funding

Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province 2023BCB007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBiliary atresia casuses progressive liver fibrosis in infants. After Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), non-invasive liver monitoring is essential. Shear wave elastography (SWE) offers a promising alternative to biopsy.

objectivesTo evaluate the diagnostic performance, reproducibility, and inter-technique consistency of three shear wave elastography (SWE) modalities-point-SWE (p-SWE), two-dimensional SWE (2D-SWE), and supersonic shear imaging (supersonic-SWE)-in children with biliary atresia post-KPE. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis prospective study (March 2024-November 2024) recruited 76 children: 47 biliary atresia patients (mean age, 5.7 ± 3.3 years; 24 girls) post-KPE and 29 healthy controls (mean age, 6.9 ± 3.2 years; 12 girls). Liver stiffness values were obtained using three SWE techniques. Statistical methods included the Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman test, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Spearman correlation, and generalized liner model analysis.

resultsBiliary atresia group showed significantly higher liver stiffness values than controls across all techniques (supersonic-SWE: 8.20 vs. 5.20 kPa, p-SWE: 6.60 vs. 3.50 kPa, 2D-SWE: 4.90 vs. 2.90 kPa; all P< 0.001). Supersonic-SWE yielded higher liver stiffness values than p-SWE and 2D-SWE (P< 0.05). Strong correlations were observed. Reproducibility was good to excellent (ICCs: 0.74 to 0.90), with supersonic-SWE demonstrating the highest ICC. Anteroposterior diameter of the left lobe was an independent predictor significantly associated with liver stiffness values (P< 0.001). Supersonic-SWE required longer measurement time than other techniques (P< 0.001).

conclusionSWE is a reliable tool for liver stiffness assessment in biliary atresia patients, however, inter-technique and inter-vendor discrepancies highlight the need for standardized protocol and techniques should not be used interchangeably.

Indexed as

Biliary AtresiaElasticity Imaging TechniquesLiverLiver CirrhosisCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMalePortoenterostomy, HepaticProspective StudiesReproducibility of ResultsBiliary atresiaLiver stiffness measurementsShear wave elastographyUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID40668373
PMCPMC12464065

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.