Abbreviations

[Bungalow68]

Can someone please tell me what ARFI is. I am new to this and can't understand the abbreviations xx

[AyrshireK]

That's a new one on me but looking it up it is Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a new and promising ultrasound-based diagnostic technique that, evaluating the wave propagation speed, allows the assessment of the tissue stiffness. ARFI is implemented in the ultrasound scanner.

I shall add it to the post I created some months ago about commonly used acronyms and what they stand for, sometimes members do slip into acronym use without putting in the full name as well.

For future use incase you get stumped with an acronym here is the post I created.

healthunlocked.com/britishl...

Katie

[ballie52 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Katie you have a wealth of knowledge on liver disease!😄

I remember you 4 plus yrs ago when I was looking for advice!

Most of the others back then have moved on and no longer need the advice and support!

I was off the forum for a long time but thought it's nice to pop in for some advice now and then and was really pleasantly surprised you are still here helping and supporting others!

Thank you for the advice and support you have given me and others on this site over the yrs💕💕💕

[AyrshireK in reply to ballie52]

Thank you, yep I really must get a life ....... LOL.

[Hidden in reply to AyrshireK]

Where would we be without you?.😭

[Pussycat65]

Hi, I think this is what they commonly call a Fibroscan!

[AyrshireK in reply to Pussycat65]

Similar but not the same. Fibroscan uses transient electography whereas ARFI uses acoustic radiation force impulse.

Transient elastography is performed with the Fibroscan® device (Echosens, Paris, France) which incorporates a 5‐MHz ultrasound transducer probe mounted on the axis of a vibrator. The vibrator generates a completely painless vibration (with a frequency of 50 Hz and amplitude of 2 mm), which leads to an elastic shear wave propagating through the skin and the subcutaneous tissue to the liver. The shear wave velocity (expressed in kiloPascals‐kPa) is directly related to the stiffness of the tissue.

Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography is performed with a Siemens AcusonS2000TM (Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany) ultrasound system. The principle of this method is that of the shearing of the examined tissue which induces a smaller strain in hard tissues than in soft ones. The ultrasound probe automatically produces an acoustic ‘push’ pulse that generates shear‐waves which propagate into the tissue. Their speed, measured in meters/second (m/s), is displayed on the screen. The propagation speed increases with fibrosis severity. Using image‐based localization and a proprietary implementation of ARFI technology, shear wave speed may be quantified, in a precise anatomical region, focused on a region of interest, with a predefined size, provided by the system. Measurement value and depth are also reported, and the results of the elasticity are expressed in m/s.

[Pussycat65 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks for that! Now I know...hee hee

[ballie52 in reply to AyrshireK]

Hi Ayrshirek

See what I mean a wealth of knowledge! 😄👍