Quantitative assessment of hepatic fibrosis by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with different regions of interest

Objective To investigate the discrepancy of quantitative parameters on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS)with different shapes and positions of region of interest(ROI)in the patients with hepatic fibrosis.Methods Thirty cases of hepatic fibrosis diagnosed pathologically were enrolled in the study.The dynamic images of CEUS stored in hard disk were analyzed off-line with the quantitative software.Three kinds of ROI with elliptic,rectangular and irregular shapes were drawn separately in the same four positions:peripheral liver parenchyma,central liver parenchyma,main portal vein and right hepatic vein.The time intensity curve(TIC)and some quantitative parameters,including increased signal intensity(ISI),decent curvature(a2),up slope rate(a3),arrival time(AT),time to peak(TTP),peak intensity(PI),area under curve(AUC)and mean transit time(MTT)were achieved.Quantitative parameters were compared among different ROIs and between peripheral and central liver parenchyma respectively.Results There was no statistical difference among three shapes of ROIs in all the quantitative parameters of ISI,a2,a3,AT,TTP,PI,AUC and MTT,respectively(P0.05).The parameters of ISI,a2,AT,PI and AUC were significantly different between peripheral and central liver parenchyma(P0.05).Conclusions Quantitative parameters of CEUS with different shapes of ROI in hepatic fibrosis have good compatibility;The microcirculation perfusion is different between peripheral and central liver parenchyma.