Elasticity distribution imaging of sliced liver cirrhosis and hepatitis using a novel tactile mapping system

Abstract

In the recent past, it has been indicated that the liver consistency can be useful to estimate functional reserve for hepatectomy however, it is still unknown how the liver gets hardened when it becomes chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. In this study, pathological model rats of liver cirrhosis and hepatitis were developed and the elasticity distribution over their sections were measured using Tactile Mapping system that was specifically designed to measure the two-dimensional elasticity distribution of very thin sliced tissues. The elasticity distribution images were then compared with the conventional azanstaining image to identify the tissues. Young’s modulus of both soft normal and hard fibrotic components exist in the sections were statistically compared and it was indicated that there was no significant difference in the elasticity of both components but the content ratio of harder fibrotic matrix was higher in the liver cirrhosis.