Preliminary Study Of Hepatic Fibrosis In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B By Acoustic Structure Quantification Technology

Objective The process of hepatic fibrosis is reversible in a variety of chronic liver disease, and it is the development of chronic liver disease to the inevitable stage of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early diagnosis of liver fibrosis is important in clinical treatment and patients’ prognosis. Acoustic structure quantification(ASQ) is a new ultrasound technology in recent years. It is a non‐invasive, quantitative technology to analysis of liver parenchymal echo signals and assessment of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to quantitative assessment of hepatic fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B by acoustic structure quantification technology.Materials and Methods The study subjects included 70 healthy volunteers and 80 patients with hepatic fibrosis. According to the pathology results of hepatic fibrosis in patients with HF was divided into mild group, moderate group and severe group, the healthy volunteers as control group. Getting liver two‐dimensional acoustic images and ASQ colored code figures by using Toshiba Aplio 500 color doppler ultrasonic diagnostic equipment. The chi‐square histogram and ASQ parameters(Red Mode, Red Average, Red SD, Blue Mode, Blue Average, Blue SD, and B/R Ratio) were comparative analyzed by using ASQ analysis software, then evaluated the correlation between ASQ parameters and the pathologic result of hepatic fibrosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve was analyzed for the best‐correlation parameter.Results 1. Comparing with the control group, along with the increase of the degree of hepatic fibrosis in HF group, the colored code figure of ASQ showed liver parenchymal hyper‐echoic uneven, the red areas increased, and irregular, reduce the blue yellow region, the Chi‐square histogram of ASQ showed the red curve distribution became narrow, rough, wider distribution, the blue line peak increased, the area under the curve increased.2. Red Average, Blue Mode and BR Ratio showed a statistical difference between each two groups(P<0.05). Red Mode and Blue Average showed a statistical difference between each two groups(P<0.05) except that between mild subgroup and moderate subgroup. Red SD showed a statistical difference between normal subgroup and any of a subgroup(P<0.05). Blue SD showed a statistical difference between normal subgroup and moderate subgroup(P<0.05), also between normal subgroup and severe subgroup(P<0.05).3. Comparing with the indicators, the relative gap of standardized ratio of blue and red color histogram cure area in each group was much larger than the other six indicators(rs=0.87,P<0.05).4. When S≥S1、S≥S2、S≥S3, the areas under ROC curves of B/R Ratio were 0.86,0.75,0.87 respectively and cutoff were 0.27,0.46,0.69 respectively.Conclusion 1. ASQ technology is quantified on the basis of echo signal in a different technique for reflect the inhomogeneity of liver tissue. It has broad application prospects in the staging of hepatic fibrosis assessment.2. ASQ technology can qualitative and quantitative assessment of hepatic fibrosis by the colored code figure of ASQ, the Chi‐square histogram of ASQ and seven parameters, and provide important bases for clinical early diagnosis and treatment.3. B/R Ratio has the best‐correlation with the pathologic result of hepatic fibrosis, so it can be a reliable indicator of evaluating the degree of hepatic fibrosis.