Measurement of Shear Wave Speed and Normalized Elastic Modulus of Human Skin with and without Dermal Striae Using Shear Wave Elastography

Abstract

Supersonic shear imaging is a non-invasive technique used for detecting physiologic and pathologic changes in biological tissues. In this study, supersonic shear imaging was used to measure and compare shear wave speed (cs) and normalized elastic modulus (EN) values of skin with and skin without dermal striae (DS) in vivo. The values were measured at angles of 0°, 45°, 90° and 315° to the skin tension lines. In the presence of DS, a statistically significant reduction in the elasticity dermis was observed (p value <0.05). The mean values of cs and EN for STLs were higher in normal skin at 45° (4.26 ± 1.05 m/s and 56.23 ± 25.31 kPa) and 90° (4.26 ± 0.55 m/s and 54.91 ± 14.22 kPa), and those for DS were also higher at 45° (3.59 ± 0.72 m/s and 42.71 ± 27.97 kPa) and 90° (3.52 ± 0.65 m/s and 42.34 ± 31.68 kPa) than at other angles. Supersonic shear imaging was found to be a promising technique in the study of skin with DS. The data obtained in this study are expected to be relevant for future studies using shear wave elastography for the aforementioned purpose.