Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pocket-Sized Versus Conventional Ultrasound for Detecting Fatty Infiltration of the Liver

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and Aims

The high prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population warrants determining whether pocket-sized ultrasound devices (PoCUS) might serve as point-of-care screening for NAFLD in busy office practices.

Methods

One hundred adult subjects undergoing conventional abdominal ultrasound (US) examinations for various indications were screened by PoCUS immediately prior to the conventional US procedure. The PoCUS examination only assessed the presence or absence of excess fat. Assessment of other liver pathology was not performed. Investigators (conventional US: an experienced radiologist and PoCUS: a general internist recently trained in the use of PoCUS) were blinded to the results of the alternative imaging.

Results

Forty patients (40%) had fatty infiltration of the liver on both conventional US and PoCUS, and 49 (49%) were negative by both modalities. A consensus was reached in two of the 11 remaining subjects with initially discrepant results. The overall sensitivity and specificity of PoCUS relative to conventional US were 91% and 88%, respectively.

Conclusions

These findings support the use of PoCUS by a trained physician for point-of-care screening of patients at risk for NAFLD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Povsic M, Wong OY, Perry R, Bottomley J. A structured literature review of the epidemiology and disease burden of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Adv Ther. 2019;36:1574–1594.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhou JH, Cai JJ, She ZG, Li HL. Noninvasive evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: current evidence and practice. World J Gastroenterol. 2019;25:1307–1326.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Stern C, Castera L. Non-invasive diagnosis of hepatic steatosis. Hepatol Int. 2017;11:70–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Expert Round Table on Ultrasound in ICU. International expert statement on training standards for critical care ultrasonography. Intensive Care Med. 2011;37:1077–1083.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Royse CF, Canty DJ, Faris J, Haji DL, Veltman M, Royse A. Core review: physician-performed ultrasound—the time has come for routine use in acute care medicine. Anesth Analg. 2012;115:1007–1028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Riley TR III, Mendoza A, Bruno MA. Bedside ultrasound can predict nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the hands of clinicians using a prototype image. Dig Dis Sci. 2006;51:982–985. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9343-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Stock KF, Klein B, Steubl D, et al. Comparison of a pocket-size ultrasound device with a premium ultrasound machine: diagnostic value and time required in bedside ultrasound examination. Abdom Imaging. 2015;40:2861–2866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tse KH, Luk WH, Lam MC. Pocket-sized versus standard ultrasound machines in abdominal imaging. Singapore Med J. 2014;55:325–333.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fierbinteanu-Braticevici C, Dina I, Petrisor A, Tribus L, Negreanu L, Carstoiu C. Noninvasive investigations for non alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. World J Gastroenterol. 2010;16:4784–4791.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cengiz M, Senturk S, Cetin B, Bayrak AH, Bilek SU. Sonographic assessment of fatty liver: intraobserver and interobserver variability. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2014;7:5453–5460.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk Canada. The authors wish to thank Ms R. Vizniak for her prompt and accurate typing of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by funding from Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Morberg Family Chair in Hepatology, Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rady College of Medicine, John Buhler Research Centre, University of Manitoba, 715 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P4, Canada

    D. A. Miles, J. Uhanova, S. Cuvelier, K. Hawkins & G. Y. Minuk

  2. Section of Ultrasound, Department of Radiology, Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    C. S. Levi & G. Y. Minuk

Authors
  1. D. A. Miles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. S. Levi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Uhanova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Cuvelier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. K. Hawkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. Y. Minuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Study concept and design—GYM; acquisition of data—DAM, CSL; analysis and interpretation of data—DAM, CSL, JU, GYM; drafting of the manuscript—DAM, GYM; critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content—DAM, GYM, CSL, SC; statistical analysis—JU, DAM; obtained funding—GYM; administrative, technical or material support—KH, DAM, GYM; study supervision—GYM, SC.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Y. Minuk.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miles, D.A., Levi, C.S., Uhanova, J. et al. Pocket-Sized Versus Conventional Ultrasound for Detecting Fatty Infiltration of the Liver. Dig Dis Sci 65, 82–85 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-019-05752-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-019-05752-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation