Liver disease is one of the major challenges in imaging today, and accurately determining compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) is extremely important in order to define the right treatment path. The recently updated guidelines from Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) introduced the “Rule of Four,” a standardized method of using four different levels of shear wave elastography-based liver stiffness to assess the probability of cACLD. 

To help easily and accurately determine cut-off values, the premium Aplio i-series ultrasound platform from Tustin-Calif.-based Canon Medical Systems USA Inc. is now available with software to display the calculated measurement averages from multiple samples of the liver, customizable based on the “Rule of Four.”   

The program uses measurements obtained with Shear Wave Elastography, Canon Medical’s technology that provides a quantitative measure and dynamic visual display of tissue stiffness in the liver. In addition, the system provides standard deviation and interquartile range (IQR) data, as well as a simple visual propagation map, to ensure accurate and confident application of the “Rule of Four” to determine cACLD and for the assessment of other liver pathologies. 

“The new guidelines from SRU reinforce the importance of quickly and accurately determining cACLD, so that clinicians can chart the right course for patient care,” says Dan Skyba, managing director, Ultrasound Business Unit, Canon Medical Systems USA Inc. “At Canon Medical, it doesn’t get much easier than automatically calculating that average measurement of tissue stiffness, with our Shear Wave Elastography plus this new liver reporting tool.”

The Aplio i-series will be showcased at this year’s virtual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), at Canon Medical’s unique, immersive booth experience.