Objective:

To discuss the value of ultrasound attenuation imaging (ATI) technique in the quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis in a rabbit fatty liver model.

Methods:

Feeding 20 male New Zealand white rabbits with high fat and high cholesterol diet to co

nstruct a rabbit model of fatty liver. Every four weeks

two rabbits were randomly selected for conventional ultrasound and ATI examinations before high fat and high cholesterol diet feeding and after high fat and high cholesterol diet feeding. From the 4th week

the two experimental rabbits who had undergone ultrasound and ATI examinations were executed. Pathological results were used as the gold standard to observe and analyze the changes of attenuation coefficient (AC) value measured by the ATI technique in the formation and development of fatty liver in rabbit liver.

Results:

The AC value of the rabbit liver showed a gradual increase during the formation and development of fatty liver. The significant difference of AC value in the rabbit liver was detected began the 12th week ［(0.909±0.189) dB/（cm·MHz

-1

）］ compared with the 0th week ［(0.592±0.131) dB/（cm·MHz

-1

）］ (

P

=0.015). The pathological results showed that the rabbit liver had obvious steatosis from the 12th week. Using pathology as a reference

the differences between S0 and S2

S0 and S3

S1 and S2

S1 and S3 were statistically significant (

P

＜0.008)

the differences between S0 and S1

S2 and S3 was not statistically significant (

P

=0.030

P

=0.021). In addition

the AC value of rabbit liver was significantly positively correlated with the degree of hepatic steatosis (

r

=0.912

P

＜0.001).

Conclusion:

The AC value showed an upward trend during the formation and development of fatty liver in the rabbit liver

and the AC value was highly correlated with the degree of hepatic steatosis. The ATI technique is capable of quantifying the extent of hepatic steatosis and dynamically monitoring the course of the disease.