Quantitative Elastography of Rectal Lesions: The Value ofShear Wave Elastography in Identifying Benign and Malignant Rectal Lesions

Abstract

We evaluate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in diagnosing benign and malignant rectal lesions. A total of 96 lesions were reviewed in this study; endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) and SWE examinations were performed before surgery in all cases. Elasticity parameters including mean elastographic index (Emean), maximum elastographic index (Emax) and minimum elastographic index (Emin) were analyzed. Correlations between elastographic parameters and histopathological results were studied. Inter-observer and intra-observer agreement was analyzed. Of the 96 rectal lesions, 72 were malignant and 24 were benign. Compared with ERUS, ERUS + SWE had higher sensitivity (93.0% vs. 88.9%), specificity (83.3% vs. 79.2%), positive predictive value (94.4% vs. 92.7%), negative predictive value (80.0% vs. 70.4%) and overall accuracy (90.6% vs. 86.4%). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, Emean and Emax had larger areas under the curve: 0.92 and 0.91, respectively. The optimal cutoff value was 61.3 kPa for Emean (sensitivity = 88.9%, specificity = 87.5%) and 63.4 kPa for Emax (sensitivity = 94.4%, specificity = 83.3%). We obtained κ values of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–0.95) for ERUS and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81–0.99) for ERUS + SWE of differential diagnosis in two observers. The intra-class correlation coefficients for intra-observer variability of stiffness (Emean) in malignant lesions, benign lesions, surrounding normal rectal wall in malignant lesions and surrounding normal rectal wall in benign lesions were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86–0.94), 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88–0.97), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88–0.95) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.77–0.95), respectively. SWE is a promising tool that yields valuable quantitative data additional to that provided by ERUS examination in rectal lesions. The cutoff value 61.3 kPa for Emean may serve as a complementary tool in diagnosis of rectal lesions.