Measurement of shear wave velocity in acoustic radiation force impulse imaging before and after contrast administration

Aims: Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse imaging (ARFI) and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are often performed for the same patient, especially for patients with focal liver lesions (FLL). CEUS could affect velocity measurements in vivo and in vitro. Whether microbubbles affect the measurement of shear wave velocity (SWV) is still unknown. Purpose: To assess the inter-observer reproducibility of ARFI between two skilled physicians and to evaluate if CEUS affect the measurement of SWV in ARFI. Patients and methods: 53 patients (29 males, 24 females, age: 59 ± 15 [22 – 84] years) who underwent CEUS examination…