Doppler ultrasound compared to shear wave elastography for assessment of liver cirrhosis

The progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhosis is a dynamic process necessitating non-invasive evaluation modalities. This study aims to evaluate the ability of Doppler ultrasound studies (DUS) in defining morphological and hemodynamic blood flow changes in the hepatic vasculature coinciding with advanced liver fibrosis.

A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients with liver cirrhosis (F4). All cases underwent liver stiffness (LS) measurement by shear wave elastography (SWE), along with DUS to evaluate the liver texture, splenic size, hepatic artery resistive index (HARI), portal and splenic vein diameters, portal vein velocity (PVV), and hepatic vein waveform (HVV). All measures were assessed concurrently with a highly qualified single operator.

Patients aged 55.5 ± 10.2 years with male predominance (72%). A highly significant correlation was found between LS by SWE and hepatic parenchymal texture, splenic size, portal vein width, and HVV (monophasic and biphasic) (p < 0.001). There were also high significant positive correlations (p < 0.001) between LS and PVV. However, there was no definitive correlation between LS and HARI, as well as splenic vein diameter.

The widely available economic Doppler studies including portal vein velocity and hepatic vein waveform changes could be of substantial diagnostic value to liver cirrhosis.

Prospective cohort study, employing descriptive and analytical statistics.