Head-to-Head Comparison between Collagen Proportionate Area and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography in Liver Fibrosis Quantification in Chronic Hepatitis C

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performances of the collagen proportionate area (CPA) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) for liver fibrosis quantification in chronic hepatitis C (CHC).A total of 137 eligible consecutive Taiwanese patients (74 women and 63 men; age 21–80 years; median age 54 years), with CHC underwent LSM by using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and an immediate percutaneous liver biopsy for METAVIR scoring. Liver tissue sections were stained using picrosirius red. Areas of the stained collagen and the tissue parenchyma were calculated in pixels. The ratio between the two areas was expressed as a CPA percentage. The result of LSM was presented as shear wave velocity (SWV). = 0.524).The CPA and ARFI elastography are promising tools for liver fibrosis evaluation. The CPA was superior to ARFI elastography in the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (≥ F2). The CPA may be independent of severe necroinflammation, which may augment liver stiffness