Can Point Shear Wave Elastography Be Used as an Early Indicator of Involvement?: Evaluation of the Pancreas and Liver in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cystic fibrosis (CF) on pancreas and liver elasticity in young children using point shear wave elastography and to determine the relationship with clinical findings. Methods: Twenty-two patients with genetically proven CF, who were admitted to our pediatric gastroenterology clinic, and 22 healthy control participants were enrolled in the study. The shear wave velocity (SWV) of the liver and pancreas were measured with point shear wave elastography. Results: The 22 patients with CF included 45.5% girls with a mean age ± SD of 35 ± 35.8 months (range, 5–123 months). The 22 healthy control participants included 41.2% girls with a mean age of 58.9 ± 44.4 months (range, 2–159 months). The mean SWV of the pancreas in the patients with CF (1.06 ± 0.26 m/s) was significantly higher than that of the healthy control participants (0.85 ± 0.23 m/s; P =.01). The mean SWV of the liver in the patients with CF (1.46 ± 0.24 m/s) was significantly higher than that of the healthy control participants (1.12 ± 0.21 m/s; P =.001). The SWV of the pancreas and liver did not show any significant differences depending on ursodeoxycholic acid use, malnutrition status, and the presence of the F508 deletion mutation. Conclusions: This study showed an increased SWV of the pancreas in children with CF, contrary to the literature. We also found an increased liver SWV even in the absence of CF-related liver disease. Ultrasound elastography may be a useful method of evaluating early changes in the pancreas and liver before the obvious clinical, laboratory, and B-mode ultrasound signs of CF-related involvement. © 2020 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine