- Ultrasound Derived Fat Fraction (UDFF) is a new measurement tool to aid physicians in the overall assessment of hepatic steatosis.
- UDFF on the ACUSON Sequoia is the only ultrasound technology to classify hepatic steatosis as an index value greater than 5%.*
- Auto Point Shear Wave Elastography (Auto pSWE), is a new liver stiffness quantification tool designed to reduce liver elastography exam time.
Siemens Healthineers has announced two new features on the ACUSON Sequoia which delivers a comprehensive liver assessment through quantification of liver tissue stiffness and hepatic fat in a single acquisition. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease globally.1,2 Of patients diagnosed with NAFLD, approximately 20% to 30% progress to more advanced NASH fibrosis.3 To date, MRI-PDFF (Proton Density Fat Fraction) is the non-invasive reference standard for assessing hepatic steatosis. Accessibility to MRI-PDFF for many parts of the global population may be limited. The association between hepatic steatosis and fibrosis progression underscores the need to have accurate and reliable noninvasive tools to aid in the assessment of both liver fibrosis and hepatic steatosis.
Addressing some key challenges in liver assessment, the new Auto pSWE on the ACUSON Sequoia is faster than conventional pSWE by delivering up to 15 valid pSWE measurements in seconds, reducing liver elastography exam time. The addition of UDFF delivers a similar clinical utility as MRI-PDFF for determining hepatic steatosis. Both methods classify hepatic steatosis as an index value greater than 5%. The combination of these tools may aid the clinician in streamlining patient care pathways and potentially avoid unwarranted and invasive medical intervention.
“The development of Auto pSWE and UDFF on Siemens Healthineers ACUSON Sequoia are significant innovations,” said Ajay Gannerkote, President of Ultrasound, Siemens Healthineers. “We are committed to developing solutions that matter to our customers and patients. Auto pSWE and UDFF will transform care delivery by improving the diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver disease around the world through early detection. In addition, it will allow clinicians to monitor a patient’s disease state as well as the effectiveness of medications that treat liver disease.”
* Disclaimer, As of November 22, 2021
1. Younossi Z, Tacke F, Arrese M, Chander Sharma B, Mostafa I, Bugianesi E, Wai-Sun Wong V, Yilmaz Y, George J, Fan J, Vos MB. Global Perspectives on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Hepatology. 2019 Jun;69(6):2672-2682. doi: 10.1002/hep.30251. PMID: 30179269.
2. Labyed & Milkowski 2021; JUM 39(12) p2427-2428, doi: 10.1002/jum.15364
3. Caussy Cyrielle, Reeder Scott B, Sirlin Claude B, Loomba Rohit. Non-invasive, quantitative assessment of liver fat by MRI-PDFF as an endpoint in NASH trials.
Contact for journalists
Lance Longwell
Phone: (610) 883-0788; E-mail: lance.longwell@siemens-healthineers.com
Siemens Healthineers AG (listed in Frankfurt, Germany: SHL) pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. As a leading medical technology company headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, Siemens Healthineers and its regional companies is continuously developing its product and service portfolio, with AI-supported applications and digital offerings that play an increasingly important role in the next generation of medical technology. These new applications will enhance the company’s foundation in in-vitro diagnostics, image-guided therapy, in-vivo diagnostics, and innovative cancer care. Siemens Healthineers also provides a range of services and solutions to enhance healthcare providers’ ability to provide high-quality, efficient care. In fiscal 2021, which ended on September 30, 2021, Siemens Healthineers, which has approximately 66,000 employees worldwide, generated revenue of €18.0 billion and adjusted EBIT of €3.1 billion. Further information is available at www.siemens-healthineers.com.
