Attenuation Imaging with Ultrasound as a Novel Evaluation Method for Liver Steatosis

Abstract

In recent years, ultrasound attenuation imaging (ATI) has emerged as a new method to detect liver steatosis. However, thus far, no studies have confirmed the clinical utility of this technology. Using a retrospective database analysis of 28 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent ultrasound liver biopsy and ATI, we compared the presence and degree of steatosis measured by ATI with the results obtained through liver biopsy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the ATI for differentiating between normal and hepatic steatosis was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.83–1.00). The AUROC of the ATI was 0.99 (95% confidence interval: 0.86–1.00) in grade ≥2 liver steatosis and 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.82–1.00) in grade 3. ATI showed good consistency and accuracy for the steatosis grading of liver biopsy. Therefore, ATI represents a novel diagnostic measurement to support the diagnosis of liver steatosis in non-invasive clinical practice.

Comparing the controlled attenuation parameter using FibroScan and attenuation imaging with ultrasound as a novel measurement for liver steatosis

“…In recent years, Canon Medical Systems has introduced an attenuation imaging (ATI) mode to the market as a novel ultrasound technique for diagnosing steatosis with the advantages of being easy to use and involving built-in ultrasonic machines [20]. ATI is a mode used to estimate the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in tissues and can adjust the region of interest to measure liver attenuation and quantitatively evaluate liver steatosis through ultrasound imaging [21].…”

Effect of Intragastric Botulinum Type A Injection Combined with a Low-Calorie High-Protein Diet in Adults with Overweight or Obesity

“…For adults, the WHO defines overweight as body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25 kg/m 2 , and obesity as BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m 2 [ 3 ]. In recent years, obesity trends have increased, raising the likelihood of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and even increasing mortality and morbidity rates in persons with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. In the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association obesity guidelines, all patients recommended for weight loss should be offered or referred for a comprehensive lifestyle intervention [ 8 ].…”

Retraction: Comparing the controlled attenuation parameter using FibroScan and attenuation imaging with ultrasound as a novel measurement for liver steatosis

“…There is also substantial text overlap between the two articles. The earlier publication [ 2 ] evaluated the accuracy of ATI in evaluating liver steatosis, whereas the PLOS ONE article [ 1 ] compared the accuracy of ATI and controlled attenuation parameter in evaluating liver steatosis.…”

“…This issue was discussed with the authors. The first author acknowledged that the same cohort of patients and ATI data is reported in both articles [ 1 , 2 ]. While the articles address different research questions, the reuse of content was not acknowledged in [ 1 ].…”

“…While the articles address different research questions, the reuse of content was not acknowledged in [ 1 ]. Hence, the article does not adhere to the journal’s second publication criterion or PLOS’ Editorial policies pertaining to text reuse and publication of related studies, and concerns remain regarding partial redundancy of the two articles [ 1 , 2 ].…”