This past weekend, two members of the QUIQ Lab showcased their cutting-edge research at the 2025 Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) National Conference.
A New Classification System for Fatty Liver — Belle Keys
Belle Keys presented findings from her recently published paper “A New Classification System for Fatty Liver—What Sonographers Should Know” , which continues to attract considerable interest both clinically and academically.
Fatty liver disease remains one of the most common chronic liver conditions worldwide, with significant implications for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Belle’s presentation provided sonographers with a much-needed update on how recent shifts in disease classification, notably the transition from NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) to newer terminologies like MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), affect both diagnostic practice and patient care pathways.
As Belle explained, these nomenclature changes reflect an evolving understanding of disease mechanisms and risk factors, including the role of alcohol and cardiometabolic comorbidities. Her work emphasises that sonographers are at the front line of early detection, with ultrasound-based assessment playing a central role in both diagnosing and staging steatosis. Belle also highlighted how new quantitative ultrasound techniques, such as estimates of attenuation coefficients (AC) and backscatter, are becoming valuable adjuncts to traditional B-mode assessment, offering non-invasive ways to quantify liver fat.
For sonographers navigating these evolving guidelines, Belle’s work provides a timely and evidence-based resource to ensure that clinical practice remains aligned with international consensus recommendations. Her publication is now available open access in Sonography (https://doi.org/10.1002/sono.12519).
Shear Wave Elastography in Stroke Rehabilitation — Jacqui Roots
Dr Jacqueline Roots also took to the podium to present aspects of her PhD research, which explores the application of shear wave elastography (SWE) to measure muscle stiffness in stroke survivors.
Following a stroke, many patients develop muscle spasticity, an increase in muscle tone that can lead to impaired mobility and long-term disability. Traditionally, clinicians have relied on subjective clinical scales, such as the Tardieu Scale, to assess spasticity. Jacqui’s research investigates whether SWE can provide a more objective, quantitative measure of muscle stiffness, particularly in the critical early (acute) phase post-stroke.
A particularly novel aspect of Jacqui’s work is that, for the first time, Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) measurements of muscle stiffness have been performed during the acute stage, within just days to weeks of the neurological event. Importantly, her preliminary findings show that shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements correlated with the R2 component of the Tardieu Scale, a clinical measure reflecting the passive (mechanical) stiffness of the muscle. This correlation suggests that SWE may provide an objective, quantitative surrogate for established clinical assessments, potentially enabling earlier detection of muscle changes and more targeted rehabilitation strategies before fixed contractures develop.
Jacqui’s work builds on substantial foundational studies validating the reproducibility of SWE in musculoskeletal applications (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.09.009), and her comprehensive thesis contributes valuable guidelines on how to implement SWE protocols for muscle assessment within clinical practice.(https://doi.org/10.5204/thesis.eprints.248732)
Congratulations to both presenters on representing the lab and contributing to the advancement of sonographic practice!