Abstract: Objective To evaluate the value of sound speed correction (SSC) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in the evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the prediction of cirrhosis. Methods Forty-eight patients with NAFLD and 50 patients with cirrhosis admitted to Aoyang Hospital in Zhangjiagang from July 2022 to July 2023 were selected and examined with SWE and SSC technologies. The maximum shear velocity (Vmax), average value (Vmean) and elastic modulus values were detected by SWE. Sound velocity matching value (ZSI value) was detected by SSC technique. The difference of the above indexes was compared to analyze the efficacy of single and combined application of each parameter in the diagnosis of cirrhosis, and the success rate and time consuming time of SSC and SWE. Results The echo in the cirrhosis group was higher by 32.00%, the mass with abundant blood flow was 62.5042.00%, the blood flow grade 0 was 0.00%, and the internal echo was not uniform by 54.00%, which was lower than those of 54.17%, 42.0062.50%, 025.00%, 25.00% in the NAFLD group (P<0.05). The values of ZSI (38.46±3.12) m/s, elastic modulus (30.41±3.95)kPa, (3.56±0.34) m/s and Vmean (3.28±0.29) m/s in cirrhosis group were higher than those of (22.63±3.20) m/s, (16.53±2.41) kPa and (2.63±0) .24) m/s, (2.51±0.20) m/s (P<0.05). According to ROC curve analysis, the sensitivity of ZSI, elastic modulus, Vmax, Vmean and combined diagnosis of cirrhosis were 70.00%, 72.92%, 72.92%, 75.00% and 91.67%, and the specificity was 72.00%, 74.00%, 76.00%, 78.00% and 90.00%, respectively. The combination of ZSI, elastic modulus, Vmax and Vmean had high value in the diagnosis of cirrhosis (AUC=0.908). The success rate of SWE technique is lower than that of SSC technique (98.98%) (P>0.05), and the time of SSC technique is shorter (4.05±0.51) min than that of SWE technique (3.63±0.46) min (P<0.05). Conclusion SSC technique combined with SWE technique has good application value in differentiating NAFLD and cirrhosis, and has potential application value in dynamic observation of NAFLD progression.

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Sound velocity matching technology, Shear wave elastic imaging features, Liver cirrhosis