DISTRIBUTION OF NORMATIVE PERCENTILES OF LIVER STIFFNESS MEASURED IN AN ADULT POPULATION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL USING ULTRASOUND SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY
This study aimed to establish normative percentiles for liver stiffness measurements (LSM) using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in an adult population at a tertiary care hospital, providing a reliable reference for clinical evaluation and diagnosis of liver conditions. A cross-sectional design was employed, and 875 adults aged 19–70 years were included between June and July 2021. Participants were recruited consecutively from wellness programs or referrals for liver assessments. SWE was performed using a standardized protocol with the Resona series ultrasound machines.The mean age of the participants was 47.37 ± 15.05 years, and 70.1% were male. Liver stiffness values of <5 kPa, indicating a high probability of normal liver health, were observed in 7.65% of the population. Values between 5–9 kPa, suggesting the absence of compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) without clinical signs, were recorded in 68.1%. Stiffness values of 9–13 kPa, indicating potential cACLD, were found in 23.2%, while values >13 kPa ruled in cACLD in 6.75%. Values >17 kPa, suggestive of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), were observed in 5.1%. The 90th percentile cutoff for LSM demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance, with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 97.4% for identifying cACLD, outperforming serum markers like AST and ALT. These findings provide critical normative data on liver stiffness in an Asian Indian adult population and highlight the utility of SWE as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection of hepatic abnormalities and guiding further evaluation