Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging (ARFI) : a New Technique to Assess Liver Elasticity

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by non invasive methods is increasingly used to estimate liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases. However, there is growing evidence that fibrosis is not the only determinant of liver stiffness. Indeed inflammation, cholestasis, congestion could also interfere with stiffness measurements. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) is a new technology to perform real time LSM. Using a standard ultrasonographic probe, it offers elastography with a flexible metering box at variable depth, allowing the examination of specific area.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Man or Woman
* Age\> 18 years old
* Able to understand the study and to give informed consent
* Informed consent signed by patient and investigator before any study required examination
* With a valid health insurance
* Groups specific inclusion criteria are:
* Group A : healthy volunteers without known liver disease
* Group B : voluntary patients without known liver disease
* Group C and D Patient with a diagnosed chronic liver disease
* Group E : patients with liver tumors (benign or malignant) with surgical indication
* Group F : patients with acute right heart insufficiency diagnosed by a cardiologist
* Group G :patients with biliary cholestasis and imaging evidence of biliary dilatation

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient under 18 years old
* Not able to understand the study or to give their consent.
* Pregnant woman
* Severe respiratory insufficiency
* Unable to perform a "light" apnea .
* hemodynamic instability (cardiogenic shock, septic or anaphylactic) possibility of disruption of the elasticity and inability to carry patient.
* Chronic heart insufficiency.
* deprived of their liberty by court

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