To evaluate the clinical value of virtual touch tissue imaging quantification technique in liver injury of newborn (age≤28 days) and baby (>28 days, ≤90 days).

One hundred and eighty-three patients with jaundice in the Children′s Hospital from 2014 October to 2015 May were divided into two groups: physiological jaundice group (n=124) and pathologic jaundice group (n=59) according to the clinical diagnosis. Based on the number of jaundice days, the pathological jaundice group was divided into three subgroups. At the same time, 162 normal newborns and baby were selected as the control group. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) was used to detect the shear wave velocity (SWV) of liver tissue in the three groups, and to compare the average velocity of the shear wave among groups/subgroups.

The average SWV of liver was (1.13±0.08) m/s in physiological jaundice group, (1.20±0.12) m/s in pathological jaundice group, and (1.11±0.09) m/s in normal group, F=11.658, P<0.05. There were significant differences in the levels of SWV between the pathological jaundice and normal/physiological jaundice (t=3.548, 4.823, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the levels of SWV between physiological jaundice group and normal group (t=1.454, P>0.05). The levels of SWV in the different days of jaundice subgroup were significantly different (F=5.619, P<0.01).

Using acoustic touch tissues quantification (VTQ) techniques to measure liver elasticity provides a new noninvasive, safe and quantitative method for the evaluation of jaundice and the degree of cholestasis in the newborn and baby. It can help to monitor the degree of liver damage, so that the jaundice children can receive treatment timely.