Purpose

To date, limited studies have specifically addressed the reliability of ultrasound point shear-wave elastography (pSWE). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the reproducibility of ultrasound pSWE within and between operators using two ultrasound scanners.

Methods

iU22 and EPIQ7 ultrasound scanners were used to assess the reliability of pSWE measurements of four inclusions [LI (8 kPa), L II (14 kPa), L III (48 kPa), and L IV (80 kPa)] at a depth of 3.5 cm in an elasticity phantom using a curvilinear 5-1 MHz transducer. The intra-operator, inter-operator, and inter-scanner reproducibility of pSWE was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Bland-Altman plots were used to establish bias and limits of agreement (LoA) between measurements. The accuracy of pSWE from manufacturer values was determined using the one-sample t-test.

Results

Intra-operator agreement was excellent, with an ICC> 0.90. The bias in measurements for operator A was-0.36±3.13 kPa (LoA,-6.47 to 5.75), and for operator B it was 1.97±6.29 kPa (LoA,-10.25 to 14.21). Inter-operator agreement was excellent, with an ICC of 0.95. The bias in measurements between operators was-0.42±5.00 kPa (LoA,-10.24 to 9.38). The inter-scanner agreement between EPIQ7 and iU22 was excellent, with an ICC of 0.96. The bias in measurements between scanners was 1.74±4.44 kPa (LoA,-6.95 to 10.45). There was significant overestimation for LI (17.75%) and L II (31.14%) and underestimation for L III (-15.28%) and L VI (-98.00%) relative to the manufacturer-reported values.

Conclusion

Phantom ultrasound pSWE was reproducible within and between operators, and between Philips ultrasound scanners; further studies using different ultrasound systems and transducers are required.