Ultrasound and Attenuation Imaging
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A cross-sectional study assessing the agreement between sonographer based assessment of the fatty liver using conventional ultrasound and attenuation imaging scoring.
IRAS ID
329847
Contact name
Laura Mundy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Fatty liver disease affects almost a 3rd of the UK population. Currently, this is being investigated using a type of MRI scan that reports how fatty or not a person’s liver is, with a liver fat score, but many patients cannot have this type of scan due to time, cost or because they have a condition which makes Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) an unsafe scan for them to have. An ultrasound scan is cheaper, faster and safer for a wider variety of patients. New developments in ultrasound technology mean that instead of a Sonographer, or ultrasound operator, deciding whether a liver is fatty or not based on what they see on the scan, the ultrasound machine gives a liver fat score. This study will look at the relationship between the Sonographers' view on how fatty the liver is, compared with the liver fat score given by the new development in ultrasound technology. This might be useful in reducing subjectivity between sonographers in ultrasound and give a more accurate diagnosis. It may allow us to investigate in future how this technology may be used with regards to different treatments, or education for training or newly qualified staff. It may also allow us to look at the use in point of care ultrasound in specialized liver clinics.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
23/WA/0332
Date of REC Opinion
18 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion