Comparison of elasticity values of the right lobe of the liver of normal weight and morbidly obese Turkish patients

Abstract

Introduction: Shear wave elastography is a method for the measurement of tissue stiffness. The advantage of this method is that its outcome is not operator dependent. Our aim was to compare the elastiscity values of the right lobe of the liver of normal weighted and morbidly obese patients.

Materials and Methods: The mean elastiscity values of the right lobe of the liver were calculated for 38 normal weighted and 37 morbidly obese patients. All the patients had no history of liver disease.

Results: The mean elastiscity value was significantly higher in morbidly obese patients than (25,7 +3,30 kPascal) in normal weighted patients for the right lobe of liver (10,55 +2,20 kPascal).

Conclusion: Morbidly obese patients have a potential risk for liver fibrosis even in the absence of hepatosteatosis.

Keywords: Ultrasonography, morbid obesity, shear wave elastography