Multiparametric study to identify the hepatic fibrosis stages

Ultrasonic parameters such as Backscatter Coefficient (Bc), Speed-of-Sound (SOS), Attenuation Coefficient (Ac), Mean Scatterer Spacing (MSS), and Spectral Slope (SS) have shown their potential to differentiate between healthy and pathologic samples in different organs (eye, breast, prostate, liver...). Recently, our group has looked into the characterization of hepatic fibrosis stages using the parameters cited above. The results have shown that none of them was able to individually distinguish between the different stages. Therefore, our aim is to explore a multiparametric approach by combining these parameters in pairs, to test their potential to discriminate between the liver fibrosis stages F0, F1, F3 and F4, according to Metavir Score. Discriminant analysis has shown that the most relevant individual parameter was Bc followed by SOS, SS, MSS and Ac, respectively. It has shown that the combinations of (Bc, SOS) was the best to differentiate between the fibrosis stages and have correctly classified 85% of the liver samples with a high significant level (p<0.0000).