Ultrasound evaluation of liver fibrosis: preliminary experience with acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) software

Abstract

ASQ is a promising new ultrasound software programme which offers encouraging results in the diagnosis of both liver cirrhosis (F=4) and fibrosis (F≥1). However, to date it has not attained the same level of diagnostic performance as Fibroscan.

Impact Factors and the Optimal Parameter of Acoustic Structure Quantification in the Assessment of Liver Fibrosis

“…Similar results are presented in the study by Ricci et al (2013). However, no significant correlation between ASQ parameters and the stages of liver fibrosis was found in the study by Kramer et al (2014).…”

“…(iii) The ROIs should be drawn to avoid large vessels, which were defined as .2 mm for the first time. Although large vessels were suggested to be excluded in previous studies, no accurate definition of large vessels was available (Kramer et al 2014;Ricci et al 2013;Toyoda et al 2009). Moreover, the results of the ASQ are stable: (i) No significant variation was found in the ASQ parameters between the left and right lobes of the liver.…”

“…ASQ is based on the statistical processing of scattered echo signals to estimate the local heterogeneity of the liver structure (Toyoda et al 2009). To our knowledge, only three studies in English literature have been published on ASQ of liver fibrosis (Kramer et al 2014;Ricci et al 2013;Toyoda et al 2009). Preliminary studies found a positive correlation between ASQ parameters and the METAVIR stages of fibrosis (Ricci et al 2013;Toyoda et al 2009).…”

“…To our knowledge, only three studies in English literature have been published on ASQ of liver fibrosis (Kramer et al 2014;Ricci et al 2013;Toyoda et al 2009). Preliminary studies found a positive correlation between ASQ parameters and the METAVIR stages of fibrosis (Ricci et al 2013;Toyoda et al 2009). However, the standardization of scanning and analysis procedures was not defined, such as specifications for the definition of large vessels and the transmit focus and imaging depth.…”

Ultrasound in chronic liver disease

“…Acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) is one method of quantifying the statistical deviation of ultrasound signals that occurs in diffuse pathological processes [28]. In the evaluation of fibrosis and cirrhosis, ASQ as yet has not been shown to perform as well as TE [29]. ASQ technology has been proposed for the quantification of steatosis [30].…”