Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging (ARFI) : a New Technique to Assess Liver Elasticity

Brief Summary

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by non invasive methods is increasingly used to estimate liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases. However, there is growing evidence that fibrosis is not the only determinant of liver stiffness. Indeed inflammation, cholestasis, congestion could also interfere with stiffness measurements. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) is a new technology to perform real time LSM. Using a standard ultrasonographic probe, it offers elastography with a flexible metering box at variable depth, allowing the examination of specific area.