Antares ultrasound machine

NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound-confirmed hepatic steatosis and a daily alcohol consumption < 10 g for females and < 20 g for males [12 (link)]. Ultrasound by trained sonographers used a Siemens Antares ultrasound machine with a CH 6–2 curved array probe (Sequoia, Siemens Medical solutions, Mountain View CA), according to a standardized protocol [13 (link)]. A single radiologist interpreted images and scored hepatic steatosis severity based upon echotexture, deep attenuation, and vessel blurring (0–1 no steatosis, 2 mild steatosis, and 3–6 moderate-severe steatosis). The intra-observer reliability (κ statistics) for fatty liver was 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73–0.88). Testing for hepatitis B or C virus infections was not performed because notification rates were on average less than 24/100,000 and 23/100,000, respectively, for Western Australian adolescents aged 15–19 years over the study period [12 (link)].

All participants underwent an ultrasonographic scan of the liver, performed by a single sonographer (Siemens Antares ultrasound machine with a CH 2- to 5-MHz convex probe). Then, a radiologist (specialized in liver imaging and blinded to the clinical and laboratory findings of the subjects) interpreted the ultrasound images. NAFLD was diagnosed using ultrasonographic scoring for liver steatosis and the findings of fatty infiltration (liver echotexture, echo penetration, and clarity of vessel structures) [15 (link)].
Subjects with the suggested NAFLD by ultrasonography were confirmed by MR imaging with a standard torso phased-array coil centered over the liver at 3-T MR imager (Signa Excite HD; GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI; eight-channel coil). Two experienced radiologists reviewed images through Osirix and estimated the liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF), which is a measure of liver fat content [16 (link)].