Kistik Fibrozisli Çocuklarda Karaciğer Tutulumunun Shear-Wave Elastografi ile Non-invaziv Değerlendirilmesi

Objectives: Hepatobiliary complications commonly occur in cystic fibrosis with increasing prevalence due to longer life expectancies and widespread screening efforts. Shear-wave elastography is a novel noninvasive method that involves application of local mechanical compression on soft tissue using focused ultrasonography and acquiring strain images that show tissue response. We aimed to compare abdominal ultrasonography and Shear-wave elastography and also clinical and laboratory findings of children with cystic fibrosis prospectively. Methods: This study is a prospective study conducted in 13 cystic fibrosis patients followed between February 2018 and March 2019. The severity of cystic fibrosis-related liver disease was categorized according to international criteria. Elastography measurement was performed in the same session with the evaluation of the liver by abdominal ultrasonography in the patients. The liver stiffness measurements were compared with clinical data, biochemistry parameters and ultrasound findings. Results: Measurements were performed in 13 cystic fibrosis children (3 boys, 10 girls). The mean kiloPascal values of liver stiffness measurements with shear-wave elastography were 8.68 (4.1-20.2). The median liver stiffness measurement in subjects without cystic fibrosis-related liver disease was 7.79 kiloPascals (n=5); The median liver stiffness measurement in subjects with cystic fibrosis-related liver disease was 9.23 kiloPascals. Conclusion: Cystic fibrosis-related liver disease has a significantly varying disease burden, its prevalence is increasing, and its early recognition is crucial for treatment and follow-up. Although there are no clear range values determined for children in tissue stiffness measurements in Shear-wave elastography, clinical and other laboratory and imaging methods and follow-up and evaluation are important.