Value Of Shear Wave Elastography Research Articles

Carotid artery ultrasonography and shear wave elastography in Takayasu's arteritis: a comparative analysis with diabetes mellitus.

Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) is a chronic inflammatory large vessel vasculitis with a grim prognosis due to the excessive risk for cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Its diagnosis relies on radiographic imaging and its differentiation particularly from atherosclerosis could be challenging. Hypothesising that vascular morphology observed in TAK would be comparable to that found in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a prototype for advanced atherosclerosis, we compared two disease groups using carotid artery B mode US and shear wave elastography (SWE). A total of 72 patients with TAK (63F/9M; mean age: 42.7± 10.0 years) and 74 patients with T2DM (65F/9M; mean age: 50.2± 7.1 years) were studied. Intima-media thickness (IMT), outer diameter and arterial stiffness as assessed by SWE values were measured on the common carotid artery (CCA) and atherosclerotic plaques were recorded. Clinical characteristics, CV risk factors and previous history of CV diseases were determined. Framingham risk score was calculated. Patients with TAK exhibited significantly lower atherosclerotic risk but higher systolic blood pressure (BP) levels compared to those with T2DM. The mean values of CCA IMT, outer diameter, and stiffness were significantly elevated among patients with TAK compared to those with T2DM. Carotid artery plaques were evenly distributed between the study groups, but their anatomical localisation and composition differed significantly. While coronary artery disease (CAD) was more prevalent among T2DM patients, cerebrovascular diseases were more frequent among TAK patients. Our study revealed distinctive vascular alterations and atherosclerotic changes when compared to advanced atherosclerosis associated with T2DM. Apart from these, higher levels of systolic BP and significantly different distribution of CV diseases between TAK and T2DM also suggest that TAK should be handled with distinct assessment strategies than that employed in conventional atherosclerotic conditions.

Shear wave elastography values of thrombus in patients with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis for pulmonary embolism detection: the ROC analysis

Rationale: Thrombosis of the iliac (IV) and femoral veins (FV) is one of the most common causes of pulmonary embolism (PE). Modern ultrasound scanners are equipped with the technology of shear wave elastography, which gives a quantitative assessment of thrombus stiffness by Young's modulus reconstruction. However, the lack of convincing data on the role of thrombus stiffness for clinical manifestations of PE hinders the active use of shear wave elastography to diagnose the risk of embolism.
 Aim: To determine the threshold values of the venous thrombus Young’s modulus for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities complicated by massive PE and/or PE with acute cor pulmonale (ACP).
 Materials and methods: This was a single center cross-sectional study in 101 patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute (duration of less than 2 weeks) or subacute (from 2 weeks to 3 months) IV and FV thrombosis. Doppler ultrasound of the lower extremity veins and echocardiography were done in all patients. Forty eight patients with clinical signs of PE had chest computed tomography. The venous thrombus stiffness was assessed by shear wave elastography with the Young's modulus reconstruction. We performed the ROC analysis for mean values of the Young's modulus for proximal segments of IV and FV thrombi in patients with DVT and massive PE and ACP.
 Results: PE was diagnosed in 40.6% (26/64) of the patients hospitalized with acute DVT and in 54.1% (20/37) of those with subacute DVT. Echocardiographic signs of ACP in massive PE were found in 47.4% (9/19) of the patients, in submassive and minor PE in 55.6% (15/27). In DVT complicated with PE, the ROC analysis of the shear wave elastography results gave the following threshold values of the mean Young’s modulus for the proximal thrombus segment: for acute IV thrombosis + PE and ACP, ≤ 16.7 kPa (AUC 0.714, sensitivity 100%, specificity 42.1%), in subacute IV thrombosis + PE and APC, ≤ 23.7 kPa (0.939, 100 and 90.9%, respectively), in acute FV thrombosis + massive PE, ≥ 9.5 kPa (0.706, 100 and 50%, respectively), in subacute FV thrombosis + massive PE, ≥ 24.4 kPa (0.550, 60.0 and 68.8%, respectively).
 Conclusion: Shear wave elastography of deep vein thrombi of the lower extremities makes it possible to identify patients with PE and ACP during acute and subacute IV thrombosis and to determine massive PE in acute FV thrombosis.

Preoperative ultrasound radiomics for predicting clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreatectomy.

To evaluate the efficacy of the radiomics model based on preoperative B-mode ultrasound (BMUS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for predicting the occurrence of clinically relevant-postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF). Patients who were scheduled to undergo pancreatectomy were prospectively enrolled and received ultrasound assessment within one week before surgery. The risk factors of POPF (grades B and grades C) were analyzed. Preoperative BMUS images, SWE values of pancreatic lesions and surrounding parenchyma were used to build preoperative prediction radiomics models. Radiomic signatures were extracted and constructed using a minimal Redundancy Maximal Relevance (mRMR) algorithm and an L1 penalized logistic regression. A combined model was built using multivariate regression which incorporated radiomics signatures and clinical data. From January 2020 to November 2021, a total of 147 patients (85 distal pancreatectomies and 62 pancreaticoduodenectomies) were enrolled. During the three-week follow-up after pancreatectomy, the incidence rates of grade B/C POPF were 28.6% (42/147). Radiomic signatures constructed from BMUS of pancreas parenchymal regions (panRS) achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.75, accuracy of 68.7%, sensitivity of 85.7 %, and specificity of 61.9 % in preoperative noninvasive prediction of CR-POPF. The AUC of the radiomics model increased to 0.81 when panRS was used for the prediction of CR-POPF after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Radiomics model based on ultrasound images was potentially useful for predicting CR-POPF. Patients with high-risk factors should be closely monitored when postoperation.

Stiffness Changes in Shoulder Muscles between Pitchers and Position Players after Throwing Overhead Using Shear Wave Elastography and Throwing Motion Analysis.

Objectives: The objective is to compare stiffness changes around the shoulder muscles between pitchers and position players after throwing overhead using shear wave elastography (SWE) in relation to throwing motion analysis and muscle strength. Methods: A total of 32 male college baseball players (12 pitchers and 20 position players) were observed throwing 20 times, and SWE was performed to evaluate 13 shoulder muscle items-tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor), muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus [transverse and oblique part], teres minor, lower trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis minor), and capsules (posterior and posteroinferior). Motion analysis was used to assess elbow torque, forearm angle, forearm rotation speed, and maximum external rotation angle of the shoulder. Muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer for abduction, internal/external rotation of the shoulder at an abduction of 0°, internal/external rotation of the shoulder at an abduction of 90°, and internal/external rotation of shoulder at a flexion of 90°. Results: In the pitcher group, SWE values for the teres minor muscle and latissimus dorsi muscle increased significantly after throwing. In the position player group, SWE values for the teres minor muscle significantly increased, and SWE values of the pectoralis minor muscle decreased after throwing. In the pitcher group, positive correlations were found between the teres minor muscle and forearm rotation speed and between the latissimus dorsi muscle and forearm angle. No significant difference was found in muscle strength after throwing in any of the groups. Conclusions: Stiffness changes occurred after throwing and were related to the motion analysis, but the regions in which stiffness occurred varied between pitchers and position players.

Correlation of shear-wave elastography stiffness and apparent diffusion coefficient values with tumor characteristics in breast cancer

We aimed to investigate the correlation between shear-wave elastography (SWE) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in breast cancer and to identify the associated characteristics. We included 91 breast cancer patients who underwent SWE and breast MRI prior to surgery between January 2016 and November 2017. We measured the lesion’s mean (Emean) and maximum (Emax) elasticities of SWE and ADC values. We evaluated the correlation between SWE, ADC values and tumor size. The mean SWE and ADC values were compared for categorical variable of the pathological/imaging characteristics. ADC values showed negative correlation with Emean (r = − 0.315, p = 0.002) and Emax (r = − 0.326, p = 0.002). SWE was positively correlated with tumor size (r = 0.343–0.366, p < 0.001). A higher SWE value indicated a tendency towards a higher T stage (p < 0.001). Triple-negative breast cancer showed the highest SWE values (p = 0.02). SWE were significantly higher in breast cancers with posterior enhancement, vascularity, and washout kinetics (p < 0.02). SWE stiffness and ADC values were negatively correlated in breast cancer. SWE values correlated significantly with tumor size, and were higher in triple-negative subtype and aggressive imaging characteristics.

Evaluation of endometrial receptivity in women with unexplained infertility by shear wave elastography

ObjectivesThe endometrium of most unexplained infertility (UI) patients has been altered histologically. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is utilized to assess the signature of living tissue. This study aimed to explore the value of SWE in evaluating endometrial receptivity (ER) in UI patients.MethodsIn total, 59 UI patients (UI group) and 52 normal control women (NC group) who received fertility consultation in our hospital were included between January 2022 and June 2023. We divided them into the late-proliferative phase of UI group (LPUI; n = 59), mid-secretory phase of UI group (MPUI; n = 41), late-proliferative phase of NC group (LPNC; n = 52), and mid-secretory phase of NC group (MPNC; n = 45). Transvaginal ultrasonography and SWE were performed during the LP and MP. Endometrial thickness (EMT), uterine artery pulsatility index (UA-PI), endometrial mean elasticity (E-mean), and mean shear wave velocities (SWV-mean) were measured.ResultsThere were significant differences in E-mean, SWV-mean, EMT, and UA-PI between the UI group and the NC group during both the LP and MP (p MPNC vs MPUI < 0.05, p LPNC vs LPUI < 0.05). E-mean and SWV-mean decreased with increasing EMT but increased with increasing UA-PI (p < 0.05). The most effective parameter for evaluating ER in UI patients is the E-mean (AUC = 0.89).ConclusionsUI patients exhibited thinner endometrium, increased endometrial stiffness, and poor endometrial blood perfusion. E-mean was the most effective parameter to evaluate ER in UI patients. The study preliminarily proved that SWE is a promising non-invasive tool for evaluating the condition of endometrium.Critical relevance statementThis study aimed to explore the significance of endometrial elasticity measured by SWE in evaluating patients with UI. The findings revealed a correlation between EMT, UA-PI, and E-mean. Endometrial elasticity can serve as an effective indicator for predicting ER.Key points1. To explore the significance of endometrial elasticity in assessing patients with UI.2. The endometrium of UI patient exhibited thinness, stiffness, and poor blood perfusion.3. Endometrial elasticity serves as a valuable indicator for evaluating endometrial receptivity.Graphical

Evaluation of submandibular and parotid salivary glands by ultrasonography in patients with diabetes.

Microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) include oral manifestations and complications, including xerostomia, reduced salivary flow, susceptibility to infection, periodontal disease and salivary gland enlargement. The present study aims to evaluate B-mode ultrasonography (USG) parameters such as size, volume and echogenicity of the submandibular and parotid salivary glands on both sides, shear-wave elastography (SWE) value and colour Doppler properties in patients with DM and healthy control groups. In total, 160 right and left submandibular glands and 160 right and left parotid glands of 80 patients, 40 patients (20 type 1 DM, 20 type 2 DM) and 40 healthy control group, between the ages of 18-70 were examined by USG. Echogenicity, parenchyma internal structure, margin and dimensional measurements (antero-posterior length, supero-inferior length, medio-lateral length and volume) and colour Doppler with 'ML 6-15-D Matrix Array (4-15 MHz)' probe, shear-wave elastography '9L-D (2-8 MHz)' probe was investigated. Statistically significant difference was observed in echogenicity in the right submandibular gland, echogenicity in the right parotid gland, margin characteristics, parenchymal homogeneity and colour Doppler characteristics between the type 1 DM, type 2 DM and control groups (p < .05). It was observed that the size, volume and SWE values of both submandibular and parotid glands were higher in the DM patient group than in the control group. Higher values were observed in type 2 DM compared to type 1 DM in the patient group. USG is an effective imaging technique in investigating the effects of diabetes on the submandibular and parotid salivary glands.

Comparison of resistive index and shear-wave elastography in the evaluation of chronic kidney allograft dysfunction.

Detection of early chronic changes in the kidney allograft is important for timely intervention and long-term survival. Conventional and novel ultrasound-based investigations are being increasingly used for this purpose with variable results. To compare the diagnostic performance of resistive index (RI) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis of chronic fibrosing changes of kidney allograft with histopathological results. This is a cross-sectional and comparative study. A total of 154 kidney transplant recipients were included in this study, which was conducted at the Departments of Transplantation and Radiology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplan tation, Karachi, Pakistan, from August 2022 to February 2023. All consecutive patients with increased serum creatinine levels and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after three months of transplantation were enrolled in this study. SWE and RI were performed and the findings of these were evaluated against the kidney allograft biopsy results to determine their diagnostic utility. The mean age of all patients was 35.32 ± 11.08 years. Among these, 126 (81.8%) were males and 28 (18.2%) were females. The mean serum creatinine in all patients was 2.86 ± 1.68 mg/dL and the mean estimated GFR was 35.38 ± 17.27 mL/min/1.73 m2. Kidney allograft biopsy results showed chronic changes in 55 (37.66%) biopsies. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of SWE for the detection of chronic allograft damage were 93.10%, 96.87%%, 94.73%, and 95.87%, respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 95.45%. For RI, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 76.92%, 83.33%, 70.17%, and 87.62%, respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 81.16%. The results from this study show that SWE is more sensitive and specific as compared to RI in the evaluation of chronic allograft damage. It can be of great help during the routine follow-up of kidney transplant recipients for screening and early detection of chronic changes and selecting patients for allograft biopsy.

Can shear wave elastography predict the success of shock‑wave lithotripsy used in renal stones treatment? A prospective study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the usage of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the prediction of the success rate of shock‑wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment of renal stones.Patients and methodsIn the present study, SWL was performed for 100 patients presented with renal stones in the duration from May 2022 to August 2023. The patients were divided into 2 groups SWL responders and non-responders. The study compared between the 2 groups in terms of baseline parameters of the patients as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), stone size, stone location, stone density (HU), skin-to-stone distance (SSD), the degree of hydronephrosis and the stone elastography values.ResultsThere was no statistically significant relation between stone-free rate and degree of obstruction (p = 0.628), stone size (p = 0.390) upper calyceal location (p = 0.17), middle calyceal location (p = 0.66), and renal pelvis location (p = 1.0). Nevertheless, a statistically significant relation was found as regards lower calyceal location, stone density (HU), and stone Elastography values using multivariate analysis.ConclusionsMeasurement of stone density by shear wave elastography (SWE) can be used as an alternative to HU in decision-making before SWL. SWL success depends mainly on stone site, HU, and SWE values.

Shear-wave elastography to predict hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are highly effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with a significant rate of sustained virologic response (SVR). The achievement of SVR is crucial to prevent additional liver damage and slow down fibrosis progression. The assessment of fibrosis degree can be performed with transient elastography, magnetic resonance elastography or shear-wave elastography (SWE). Liver elastography could function as a predictor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in CHC patients treated with DAAs. To explore the predictive value of SWE for HCC development after complete clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV). A comprehensive literature search of clinical studies was performed to identify the ability of SWE to predict HCC occurrence after HCV clearance. In accordance with the study protocol, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the evidence was planned. At baseline and after 12 wk of follow-up, a trend was shown towards greater liver stiffness (LS) in those who go on to develop HCC compared to those who do not [baseline LS standardized mean difference (SMD): 1.15, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 020-2.50; LS SMD after 12 wk: 0.83, 95%CI: 0.33-1.98]. The absence of a statistically significant difference between the mean LS in those who developed HCC or not may be related to the inability to correct for confounding factors and the absence of raw source data. There was a statistically significant LS SMD at 24 wk of follow-up between patients who developed HCC vs not (0.64; 95%CI: 0.04-1.24). SWE could be a promising tool for prediction of HCC occurrence in patients treated with DAAs. Further studies with larger cohorts and standardized timing of elastographic evaluation are needed to confirm these data.

Comparison of testicular stiffness values obtained by ultrasound shear-wave elastography and magnetic resonance elastography in normal healthy volunteers

Objectives: This study aimed to contribute to the standardization of elastography by comparing stiffness values obtained from ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) of the testicular parenchyma in healthy volunteers. Methods: A total of 22 healthy volunteers (44 testes) were included in this study. Of the 26 cases analyzed, four were excluded from the study due to the exclusion criteria. The testicular parenchyma of the included patients was evaluated using MRE and SWE examinations. Pearson's correlation test was used to calculate the correlation between age and stiffness values, testicular volumes and stiffness values, and stiffness values from both examinations. Results: The mean SWE stiffness of the right testes was 5.560±3.1 kPa and the mean SWE stiffness of the left testes was 5.361±2.9 kPa. The mean MRE stiffness of the right testes was 6960.11±460 Pa and the mean MRE stiffness of the left testes was 6560.19±310 Pa. There was no significant correlation between SWE and MRE stiffness values (P=0.096). There was also no significant statistical correlation between SWE and MRE stiffness values and testicular volumes (P=0.17 and P=0.093, respectively). Conclusions: No statistical correlation was found between the stiffness values obtained by SWE and those obtained by MRE in the normal testicular parenchyma. Additionally, no conclusive relationship between stiffness levels, age, or testicular volume was discovered.

Can placental shear wave elastography predict preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women during second trimester? Insights from a prospective cohort study

BackgroundPreeclampsia, a condition very frequently linked to maternal and fetal deaths worldwide, remains a pressing concern due to delays in recognition and response. Effective screening tests for early detection of high-risk cases and appropriate preventive measures are currently lacking. Well planned prenatal care, timely detection, monitoring, and appropriate management are vital to prevent preeclampsia-related fatalities.MethodsThis prospective study evaluated the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) in identifying placental structural issues caused by preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. A total of 143 high-risk pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and an anterior placental position were included in the study.ResultsWomen with preeclampsia exhibited significantly elevated SWE values in both center (27.98 ± 16.12 vs. 4.57 ± 6.57 kPa) and peripheral areas of the placenta (29.14 ± 16.12 vs. 4.80 ± 7.70 kPa) when compared to non-preeclampsia women (p = 0.000). Cutoff values of 8.70 kPa and 8.15 kPa at the Center and edge of the placenta respectively, accurately predicted preeclampsia in second-trimester pregnancies, with 84.62% sensitivity and 94% specificity. However no significant difference was observed between elastography values obtained from the center and edge of the placenta.ConclusionsIn conclusion, shear wave elastography can help diagnose preeclampsia early by assessing placental stiffness.

Can ultrasound shear wave elastography differentiate between malignant and benign pleural effusions?

BackgroundMalignant pleural effusion is a common and unfortunately serious condition that is related to life poor quality and mortality. The majority of malignant pleural effusion is metastatic in nature, with the most encountered primary neoplasm in men is the lung cancer while in women is the breast cancer. Ultrasound elastography, with its ability of evaluating tissue stiffness, has been used to differentiate malignant from benign diseases. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been explored in several organs, like the liver, breast, thyroid, lymph nodes and prostate, with the pleura can now be included among the growing list of SWE applications. Shear wave elastography may help in the differentiation of transudative and exudative types of pleural effusions.ResultsIn this study, a total of 36 patients were included, 50% revealed malignant pleural effusions (10/18 mesothelioma) and (8/18 metastatic), while the 50% revealed benign pleural effusions (9/18 transudates) and (9/18 exudates). By using sensitivity analysis test of the SWE values with V1 represents the minimum value, V2 the maximum value to calculate the cutoff values that will be used in our final diagnosis in order to differentiate benign and malignant cases. V1 shear wave elastography can significantly predict the malignant pleural effusion with p value 0.001 using a cutoff 48 kPa with calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were as follows 94.4%, 88.9%, 89.5% & 94.4% respectively with diagnostic accuracy of 92%. SWE maximum value (V2) can significantly predict the malignant pleural effusion with p value 0.001 using a cutoff 54.2 kPa, with calculated sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were as follows 94.4%, 94.4%, 94.4% and 94.4% respectively with diagnostic accuracy 94.4%. So, through comparing both cutoff values, we concluded that the cutoff value 2 is better with greater specificity, PPV and NPV in relation to the final diagnosis.ConclusionsCombination of both conventional transthoracic ultrasound and SWE quantitative and qualitative abilities in assessment of both pleural and parenchymal lesions can result in high diagnostic accuracy. Shear wave elastography alone is a sensitive, specific, useful, cost-effective, widely available and noninvasive tool for assessment of tissue stiffness and in matters of high sensitivity. 54.2 kPa can be used as the cutoff value to distinguish MPE from benign pleural disease.

Quantitative studies on B-mode ultrasound and point shear wave elastography of kidneys in nonazotemic dogs.

Renal diseases in dogs can be diagnosed effectively using B-mode ultrasound. Point shear wave elastography (pSWE) has demonstrated usefulness in diagnosing renal diseases in human medicine. However, its application in veterinary medicine is in its nascent stage. It was hypothesized that establishing pSWE reference values in nonazotemic dogs would prove valuable in differentiating renal diseases. In light of this, a single-center, quantitative study with an objective to normalize B-mode ultrasound parameters and pSWE values of the kidney in nonazotemic dogs was conducted. A total of 198 animals presented with clinical signs of anorexia, vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration were enrolled in the study spanning 2 years. Among them, 52 nonazotemic dogs were included as subjects for the study. B-mode ultrasound quantitative parameters, including length (L), breadth (B), height (H), cortical thickness (RCT), and medulla thickness (RMT) of the kidneys, as well as the diameter of the aorta (Ao), were normalized. Additionally, calculated parameters such as L:Ao, B:Ao, H:Ao, RCT:Ao, and corticomedullary ratios were worked out. Point shear wave elastography values were obtained from the cranial and caudal poles of renal cortices using ElastPQ stiffness software. The pSWE values of kidneys in nonazotemic dogs were normalized. The mean±standard error values were 1.04±0.08m/s (95% confidence interval: 0.88-1.19m/s) and 4.18±0.62kPa (95% confidence interval: 2.93-5.42kPa). In conclusion, B-mode ultrasound quantitative parameters, ratios, and pSWE values were normalized in nonazotemic dogs, which may prove valuable in differentiating renal pathologies in canine patients.

Diagnostic role of gray-scale and shear-wave elastography in pediatric patients with undescended testes: a prospective controlled study.

Ultrasound elastography is a simple non-invasive method for measuring tissue elasticity in relation to tissue fibrosis. The aim of this study was to compare echogenicity, volume and shear wave velocities of undescended vs normally descended testes. Sixty-six boys with undescended testes were included in this study. The median age range was 35.5 (10-118) months old. The cases included in this prospective study consisted of 66 patients with non-operated undescended testes, with 51 of them being affected unilaterally and 15 affected bilaterally, as diagnosed by physical examination. The control group consisted of 31 healthy boys without any particular health problems. This prospective study was performed by gray-scale ultrasonography and shear wave elastography in boys with undescended testes and healthy testes. The testicular volumes were established by ultrasound measurement, the echogenicity and shear wave elastography values were measured in boys with unilateral and bilateral undescended testes, and the results were compared with healthy boys' testes and their contralateral testes. The stiffness values were recorded for speed (m/s) and elasticity (kPa), and the stiffness values of undescended testes were compared with the healthy control group. Echogenicity values were lower in the bilateral undescended testes group than in the healthy group, and the healthy group's echogenicity was normal (p <0.001). The ROC curve was used to identify a cut-off shear wave elastography value for predicting decreased testicular echogenicity by using average shear wave elastography values. The area under the curve for the undescended testes was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70-0.85, sensitivity 83.7%, specificity 68.7%, p <0.001), with an average shear wave elastography value of 2.32 (m/s) for above the cut-off point indicates. This was found to be significantly associated with reduced echogenicity on gray-scale ultrasonography, suggesting that it may be correlated with fibrosis developing in patients with undescended testes. The study provides interesting findings in that it proposes an alternative non-invasive method for the assessment of testicular tissue in undescended testes. We used shear wave elastography to compare the stiffness of normal testes in both heathy patients and in the contralateral healthy testes of boys with undescended testes, with the values obtained for the undescended testes reflecting the level of fibrosis of the parenchyma. Another outcome of this study was observed in patients with unilateral undescended testes, where the normally descended testes showed increased shear wave elastography values, which could be an early indication of parenchymal change.

Bowel Stiffness Assessed by Shear-Wave Ultrasound Elastography Predicts Disease Behavior Progression in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

There is a lack of reliable predictors of disease behavior progression in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE) is a novel method for evaluating tissue stiffness. However, its value for assessing CD has not yet been investigated. We aimed to explore the value of SWE and other ultrasound parameters at diagnosis in predicting CD behavior progression. We retrospectively collected data from patients with CD with the nonstenotic nonpenetrating disease (B1 phenotype based on the Montreal classification). All patients underwent intestinal ultrasound at baseline and were followed up. The end point was defined as disease behavior progression to stricturing (B2) or penetrating (B3) disease. Cox regression analysis was performed for the association between baseline characteristics and subsequent end points. In addition, a multivariate nomogram was established to predict the risk of disease behavior progression quantitatively. A total of 130 patients with CD with B1 phenotype were enrolled. Twenty-seven patients (20.8%) developed B2 or B3 disease, with a median follow-up of 33 months. Multivariate analysis identified that SWE was the only independent predictor of disease behavior progression (hazard ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.12, P = 0.001). A reverse of the HR appeared at the cutoff 12.75 kPa. The nomogram incorporating SWE and other clinical characteristics showed a good prediction performance (area under the curve = 0.792). Intestinal stiffness assessed using SWE is an independent predictor of disease behavior progression in patients with CD. Patients with CD with SWE >12.75 kPa at diagnosis are prone to progress toward stricturing or penetrating diseases.

P289 Bowel Stiffness Assessed by Shear-wave Ultrasound Elastography Predicts Disease Behavior Progression in Patients with Crohn’s Disease

Abstract Background There is a lack of reliable predictors of disease behavior progression in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE), a novel method for evaluating tissue stiffness, is reportedly helpful in determining the prognosis of liver cirrhosis or breast cancer. However, its value for assessing CD has not yet been investigated. We aimed to explore the value of SWE and other ultrasound parameters at diagnosis in predicting CD behavior progression. Methods We retrospectively collected data from CD patients with the non-stenotic non-penetrating disease (B1 phenotype based on the Montreal classification). All patients underwent intestinal ultrasound with SWE measurement at baseline and were followed up. The endpoint was defined as disease behavior progression to stricturing (B2) or penetrating (B3) disease. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to explore the association between baseline SWE and subsequent outcome. We also established a multivariate nomogram to predict the risk of disease behavior progression and evaluated its performance with receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analysis. Results A total of 130 CD patients with B1 phenotype were enrolled. Twenty-seven patients (20.8%) developed B2 or B3 disease, with a median follow-up of 33 months. Multivariate analysis identified that SWE ≥12.75 kPa was the only independent predictor of disease behavior progression (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.12, P=0.001, Fig 1A). A restricted cubic spline with multiple covariates adjusted showed an approximately linear positive correlation between SWE and the risk of disease behavior progression, with a cut-off of 12.75 kPa (Fig 1B). We further established a multivariate nomogram incorporating SWE and other clinical characteristics to predict the risk of disease behavior progression quantitatively (Fig 1C). Compared to the model composed solely of SWE, the multivariate nomogram showed a higher but less significant performance (0.738 vs. 0.792, p=0.169, Fig 1D). However, the decision curve analysis showed that the model outperformed the single indicator of SWE in predicting endpoint events, especially those occured after 12 months of baseline (Fig 1E). Conclusion Intestinal stiffness assessed using SWE is an independent predictor of disease behavior progression in patients with CD. CD patients with SWE ≥12.75 kPa at diagnosis are prone to progress toward stricturing or penetrating diseases, which warrants timely intervention.

Diagnostic value of shear-wave elastography for patellar tendinopathy in female volleyball and basketball athletes: a cross sectional case control study

ABSTRACT Objectives We aim to investigate the accuracy of shear-wave elastography (SWE) in diagnosing patellar tendinopathy in female volleyball and basketball players. In addition, we compared different parts of the patellar tendon and investigated the effects of different knee angles on elastography measurements. Methods This cross-sectional case–control study evaluated 63 female athletes from professional basketball and volleyball teams (NCT06199583). Patellar tendinopathy diagnoses were made using clinical and ultrasonographic criteria. SWE measurements were taken at 30-degree knee flexion and extension. Rectangular regions of interest boxes were placed in three different parts of the tendon (proximal, middle, distal). The global SWE value was calculated by taking the mean of measurements in the three parts. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to identify significant cutoff points for SWE, and 2 × 2 tables were generated to determine sensitivity and specificity. Results Thirteen (20.6%) of the 63 athletes were diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy. The ROC curves have identified different cutoff scores for SWE measurements. The SWE score of 130.75 from the proximal part showed the highest sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 80% (p < 0.001) with a 4.45 likelihood ratio at the 30-degree knee flexion. The likelihood ratio is 1.5 at a 30-degree angle and 1.65 at a 0-degree angle when measuring the entire tendon, whereas other portions indicate a ratio ranging from 1.12 to 1.73. Conclusions Shear-wave elastography is a reliable evaluation method for diagnosing patellar tendinopathy. It has more accuracy when applied to the proximal part and at 30-degree knee flexion compared to measurements taken at knee extension and other parts of the tendon.

Multimodal ultrasound evaluation of asymptomatic ulnar nerve dislocation at the cubital tunnel.

Ultrasonography has received broad acceptance as an effective peripheral nervous imaging examination. Shear wave elastography (SWE) can quantitatively assess the stiffness of nerves; however, little research has been conducted on elastography for ulnar nerve dislocation. The purpose of this study was thus to investigate the characteristics of multimodal ultrasound, including high-resolution ultrasonography and SWE, for asymptomatic ulnar nerve dislocation at cubital tunnel. In this prospective cross-sectional study, 41 participants were recruited in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University in July 2022. The inclusion criteria for participants were being in good health and being 18-60 years of age. Meanwhile, the exclusion criterion was a history of upper limb pain or fractures, peripheral neuropathy, or systemic or immunological diseases. Finally, 38 participants were enrolled. Two ultrasound doctors measured the maximum diameter, the maximum cross-sectional area (CSA), and the shear modulus of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel independently. Another two ultrasound doctors determined whether dislocation was present during dynamic elbow flexion and extension and divided the elbows into a dislocation group and a control group. The descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were used for data analysis, and intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the consistency of evaluation between observers. Ulnar nerve dislocation was observed in 15.8% (12/76) of the ulnar nerves. There was no significant difference in the maximum diameter between the dislocation group (0.194±0.022 cm) and the control group (0.181±0.023 cm) (t=1.888; P=0.063). The CSA and SWE of the ulnar nerve were 0.064±0.009 cm2 and 43.629±6.737 kPa in the dislocation group, respectively, and were 0.050±0.008 cm2 and 31.293±7.858 kPa in the control group, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of CSA (P<0.001) and SWE (P<0.001). The ICCs of the maximum diameter, CSA, and SWE values between observers were 0.970, 0.900, and 0.915, respectively. Multimodal ultrasound consisting of high-resolution ultrasonography combined with elastography can comprehensively and quantitatively evaluate the morphological changes and mechanical properties of the dislocated ulnar nerve and monitor disease progress.

Diagnostic potential of Shear wave elastography for central precocious puberty with breast development.

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and diagnostic use of shear wave elastography (SWE) in differentiating central precocious puberty (CPP) with breast development and to analyze the correlations between sex hormone levels and SWE parameters. A total of 227 participants were included in this retrospective case-control study, including 113 girls with genuine precocious puberty breast development (the CPP group) and 114 with non-genuine precocious puberty breast development (the non-CPP group). The participants underwent clinical assessment, hormonal assays, and SWE using advanced ultrasound equipment. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, correlation analysis, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, were performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of SWE and sex hormone levels in differentiating CPP with breast development. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. The sex hormone levels of estradiol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin in the CPP group were significantly higher than those in the non-CPP group. Shear wave velocity (SWV) Maximum (Max), SWV Minimum (Min), SWV Mean, SWV standard deviation (SD), and SWV coefficient of variation in the CPP group were significantly higher than in the non-CPP group. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive correlations between LH, FSH, estradiol, and testosterone levels with various SWE parameters, indicating their clinical relevance. Logistic regression analysis identified substantial predictive potential of sex hormone levels and SWE parameters for genuine precocious puberty breast development. Additionally, the ROC analysis highlighted a high predictive value of the combined model of SWE parameters, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.903. The study underscores the correlations between sex hormone levels and SWE parameters. The superior predictive performance of the combined model of SWE parameters emphasizes the value of integrated SWE assessments for improving the accuracy of diagnosing genuine precocious puberty breast development.