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The close linkage between the elasticity modulus measured by real-time mapping shear wave elastography and the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with a sustained virological response to interferon for chronic hepatitis C

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Abstract

Purpose

Some patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). The aim of this study was to examine the linkage between liver elasticity and the presence/absence of HCC in patients after SVR.

Methods

We enrolled 42 patients who underwent real-time mapping shear wave elastography (SWE) after SVR to interferon therapy for CH-C. Of the 42 patients, six had HCC and 36 did not. We retrospectively compared the elasticity modulus and other clinical parameters between patients with and without HCC.

Results

Elasticity modulus measured by SWE, age, and serum albumin was significantly different between patients with and without HCC. Age, Fibrosis-4 index, serum gamma-globulin, total protein, and albumin levels were significantly correlated with the elasticity modulus. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves of elasticity modulus, gamma-globulin, and age for the presence of HCC were 0.963, 0.888, and 0.778, respectively. In patients with an elasticity modulus ≥6.5 kPa, both sensitivity and specificity for the presence of HCC were 83.3 %.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated the close linkage between the elasticity modulus measured by SWE and the presence of HCC in patients after SVR.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to the Department of International Medical Communications of Tokyo Medical University for the editorial review of the English manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

There are no financial or other conflicts of interest relating to this study.

Ethical considerations

All procedures followed were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions. The institutional review board of our university hospital approved this retrospective study and informed consent was waived.

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Correspondence to Yasuharu Imai.

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Imai, Y., Taira, Ji., Okada, M. et al. The close linkage between the elasticity modulus measured by real-time mapping shear wave elastography and the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with a sustained virological response to interferon for chronic hepatitis C. J Med Ultrasonics 42, 341–347 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-014-0604-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-014-0604-2

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