Ultrasound Elastography In Diagnosis Research Articles

The role of lung ultrasound and ultrasound elastography in diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases.

Ultrasound elastography (US-E) is a novel, tissue stiffness-sensitive imaging method. We aimed to investigate whether lung ultrasound (US) and US-E can play a role in diagnosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) in which lung elasticity is affected due to fibrosis. A prospective cohort study. Patients with ILD were defined as ''ILD group'' and with other pulmonary diseases as ''control group". All subjects were examined and compared by lung US in B and elastography modes. Besides, the relationship between ultrasonography and high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and chest X-ray findings was evaluated. A total of 109 patients, 55 in ILD and 54 in the control group, with a mean age of 62 ± 14 years, were included. A positive correlation was found between the Warrick score (calculated from HRCT to determine the severity of ILD) and the number of B-lines (discrete vertical reverberation artifacts, indicating interstitial lung syndrome) in lung US (p= 0.001, r= 0.550) in the ILD group. In US-E, blue color (meaning more rigid tissue) dominated in the ILD group, and green color (indicating medium tissue stiffness) dominated in the control group (p= 0.001). Lung US diagnosed the ILD with 69% accuracy, 80% sensitivity, and 60% specificity compared to HRCT. Combined with chest X-ray, diagnostic accuracy was 74%, sensitivity 60%, and specificity 89%. Although lung US and US-E are not superior to gold standard HRCT in diagnosing ILDs, they can still be accepted as promising, novel, noninvasive tools, especially when combined with chest X-rays. Their role still needs to be clarified with further studies.

Diagnostic value of median nerve shear wave ultrasound elastography in diagnosis and differentiation of carpal tunnel syndrome severity

BackgroundCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the commonest type of peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. The study aimed at evaluation of diagnostic value of median nerve stiffness measured by shear wave ultrasound elastography for diagnosis and differentiation of CTS severity, correlated to electrophysiological studies. This case–control study involved 40 patients (56 wrists) with CTS of different severity and 40 controls (40 wrists). All participants underwent electrophysiological study to assess the CTS severity, high-resolution conventional B-mode ultrasound to assess cross-sectional area “CSA” of median nerve at carpal tunnel, ratio of median nerve CSA at carpal tunnel and forearm, and shear wave ultrasound elastography with measurement of median nerve mean stiffness and correlation to electrophysiological results as the reference standard.ResultsMean median nerve stiffness by shear wave US elastography was increased in patients with CTS compared to controls and across the different CTS severity groups (P value < 0.001 & 0.001, respectively). The cutoff value by ROC curve analysis for median nerve stiffness to differentiate between patients with CTS and control group was 65.4 kPa (P value < 0.001, 94.6% sensitivity, 97.3% specificity). Higher diagnostic accuracy was noted with the combination of shear wave elastography and conventional B-mode US with improved AUC (B-mode + shear wave; 0.962, P value < 0.001).ConclusionsShear wave ultrasound elastography of median nerve was able to discriminate different severity subgroups of CTS with high sensitivity, while conventional US couldn’t. The diagnostic accuracy of CTS was improved when combined high-resolution conventional B-mode US and complementary shear wave ultrasound elastography.

Diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasound elastography for benign and malignant digestive system tumors.

Objective:To investigate the effect of endoscopic ultrasound real-time tissue elastography in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant digestive system tumors.Methods:Forty-two patients with solid tumors of digestive system who were admitted to our hospital between October 2017 and October 2018 were selected. All patients were diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound real-time tissue elastography. Elastography score was used. The strain ratios (SR) of the lesion and the surrounding control tissues were measured and compared.Results:Lesions with elastography score no more than two points were evaluated as benign, while lesions with elastography score no less than three points were evaluated as malignant. The difference of the elastography score between the benign lesion group and malignant lesion group was statistically significant (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of malignant tumors of digestive system were 91.4%, 88.9% and 87.5%, respectively. The SR of the benign lesions ranged from 0.01 to 7.34, with a median SR of 7.33; the SR of the malignant lesions ranged from 1.01 to 47.66, with a median SR of 20.07. The SR of the benign lesions was significantly lower than that of the malignant lesions (P<0.05).Conclusion:Elastography of benign and malignant tissues of digestive tract tumors has different image characteristics. Endoscopic ultrasound real-time tissue elastography is effective in differential diagnosis of digestive tract tumors as it can effectively determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant and improve diagnostic accuracy.

Complex cystic and solid breast lesions: Diagnostic performance of conventional ultrasound, strain imaging and point shear wave speed measurement.

To assess the performance of conventional high frequency ultrasound (US) and US elastography in diagnosis of complex cystic and solid breast lesions. Ninety three lesions in 93 patients underwent conventional US and US elastography, including strain elastography, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging, and point shear wave speed (SWS) measurement. Pathological examination revealed 31 (33.3%) of the 93 lesions were malignant and the remaining 62 (66.7%) were benign. Multivariate analysis showed that elder patient (OR: 25.301), internal vascularity (OR: 4.518), and not circumscribed margin (OR: 3.813) were independent predictors for malignancy, while predominately cystic lesions (OR: 0.178) was a predictor for benign lesions (all p < 0.05). Invalid SWS measurement was occurred in 19 of 31 (61.3%) malignant lesions and 16 of 62 (25.8%) benign lesions, respectively (p < 0.05). The mean SWS value for malignant lesions was significantly lower than that for benign ones, being 1.60±0.63 m/s (range, 0.68-2.70 m/s) versus 2.33±0.77 m/s (range, 0.67-3.97 m/s) (p < 0.05). Areas under the ROC curve (Azs) for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) assessment, strain elasticity score, ARFI imaging and valid point SWS measurement were 0.844, 0.734, 0.763 and 0.778,respectively. US BI-RADS category, strain elastography score, ARFI imaging patterns and point SWS measurement are useful for malignancy prediction of complex cystic and solid breast lesions. The result that SWS for malignant lesions is lower than benign one should be carefully interpreted since invalid SWS measurement is excluded for analysis. The true stiffness of malignant cystic and solid lesions should be further evaluated with a new generation of two-dimensional SWS imaging.

Ultrasound elastography in diagnosis and follow-up for patients with sialolithiasis.

This study aims to answer whether acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) can reasonably be employed in initial examination and follow-up during therapy in patients with sialolithiasis, one of the most common non-malignant disorders of the salivary glands. Mechanical tissue properties of affected and contralateral healthy salivary glands were analyzed by ARFI in 129 patients with sialolithiasis. In different subgroup analyses, ARFI shear wave velocity values were compared between healthy and diseased submandibular or parotid glands, salivary glands with calculi exhibiting different sizes, as well as before and after therapy. The patients' symptoms were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire. The t-test (2 groups) or the One-way ANOVA test (>2 groups) was used for the estimation of stochastic probability in intergroup comparisons. Submandibular or parotid glands affected by sialolithiasis were found to exhibit significant lower ARFI values as compared to the healthy contralateral glands in the same individuals. ARFI values in submandibular glands with a single calculus of more than 5 mm in diameter or with multiple calculi as well as in parotid glands with calculi exhibiting diameters of more than 5 mm were significantly higher as compared to the respective healthy contralateral glands. No significant differences in ARFI values of affected salivary glands were detected between patients with low or high symptom perception. ARFI provides an easy, quick and reliable diagnostic tool for the objective assessment of disease severity and progression in patients with sialolithiasis that can simply be implemented in pre-existing ultrasound protocols.

Ultrasound elastography in diagnosis and follow-up for patients with chronic recurrent parotitis

Chronic recurrent parotitis (CRP) is a non-obstructive disease with episodes characterized by painful swelling of the parotid gland. It presents in both a juvenile and an adult form, with no clear information on its actual origin. Diagnosis is based on patient medical history and ultrasound examination but is frequently not correctly identified. Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging (ARFI) is a novel ultrasound elastography technology that has recently been implemented in the diagnostic work-up of patients with malignancies. This study aimed to answer whether ARFI can reasonably be employed in the initial examination and follow-up during therapy in patients with CRP. Mechanical tissue properties of the salivary glands were analyzed by ARFI in 37 parotid glands of patients with CRP. Having integrated ARFI into our diagnostic protocol for CRP, affected parotid glands were found to exhibit lower tissue elasticity compared to both healthy contralateral glands in the same individuals as well as those of healthy individuals. Most importantly, this method enabled us to quantitatively assess the patient benefit of therapy regarding the recovery of the glands' diseased parenchyma. ARFI provides a quick, easy, and reliable diagnostic tool for the assessment of disease severity and progression in patients with CRP that can be seamlessly implemented into preexisting ultrasound protocols.

Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography for Diagnosis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography for Diagnosis of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Value of Endobronchial Ultrasound Elastography in Diagnosis of Central Lung Lesions

BackgroundUltrasound elastography is an imaging modality used to show tissue stiffness in tumor pathophysiological processes that promote the formation of stiffer tissues. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) elastography is an ultrasound elastography-based technique for measuring tissue stiffness during EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The diagnostic value of EBUS elastography in central lung lesions remains largely unknown.Material/MethodsA total of 57 patients with central lung lesions underwent ultrasonic bronchoscope examination. EBUS with standard B mode evaluation and elastography with grading score measurement were performed before EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Comparison of the diagnosis accuracy in malignant lung lesions between elastography and standard EBUS was made.ResultsOur data showed that the hypoechoic lesions, uneven echo, distinct boundary, and no air bronchogram were significant indicators of standard EBUS in diagnosis of malignant lung lesions (P<0.01). The differences in elastosonography grading scores between the benign and malignant lung lesions were statistically significance (P<0.01), and the elastography grading score was more sensitive and specific than the standard EBUS criteria in diagnosing malignant lung lesions. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for the elastography grading score was 0.793. The best cut-off point of the elastography grading score for distinguishing malignant from benign lung lesions was 2.5. The elastography grading score had a sensitivity of 72.2%, specificity of 76.2%, positive predictive value of 83.4%, and negative predictive value of 61.5% for distinguishing malignant from benign lung lesions. The overall accuracy of elastography grading score was 73.7%.ConclusionsBUS elastography can effectively diagnose central lung lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of elastography in malignant lung lesions is higher than that of standard EBUS criteria.

Value of ultrasound elastography versus transrectal prostatic biopsy in prostatic cancer detection

ObjectiveTo detect the impact of ultrasound elastography in diagnosis of prostatic cancer, and to evaluate its capability in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. Materials and methodsFifty patients with different prostatic lesions suspicious for malignancy were included. All patients had a conventional B-mode ultrasound examination and color Doppler imaging, and then real time ultrasound elastography was performed in the same session. Finally, the results were compared to the histo-pathological results of those lesions. ResultsThe addition of Strain ratio parameter for evaluating the elastography images showed the highest sensitivity of 74.2%, specificity of 73.7% and accuracy of 74.0% at a best cutoff point of 5.5 between benign and malignant lesions. ConclusionBased on our results, prostate US combined with elastography can be a helpful tool for finding malignant lesions. Also it can help in targeting the biopsy site.

Value of ultrasound elastography in diagnosis of focal lesions in the parotid and submandibular glands

Objective To evaluate the applicative value of ultrasound elastography in diagnosis of focal lesions in the parotid and submandibular glands.Methods 30 patients(30 lesions) were scanned by real-time ultrasound elastography and were analyzed in elastography evaluated criteria (5 score method).All the results were compared with the pathological types.Results The elastographic grades of most benign nodules were 1 - 3,while most of malignancy were 4 - 5.The elastographic grades of benign and malignant lesions were of significant difference statistically( P ＜0.01 ).If elastographic grade 4 or 5 were diagnosed as malignancies,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy for diagnosing malignant l(e)sions in the parotid and submandibular glands were 72.73 ％,84.21 ％,80.00 ％,respectively.Conclusions Ultrasound elastography is useful in the differential diagnosis of focal lesions in the parotid and submandibular glands. Key words: Ultrasonography; Salivary gland neoplasms; Elastography

Efficacy of an Artificial Neural Network–Based Approach to Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography in Diagnosis of Focal Pancreatic Masses

By using strain assessment, real-time endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) elastography provides additional information about a lesion's characteristics in the pancreas. We assessed the accuracy of real-time EUS elastography in focal pancreatic lesions using computer-aided diagnosis by artificial neural network analysis. We performed a prospective, blinded, multicentric study at of 258 patients (774 recordings from EUS elastography) who were diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (n = 47) or pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n = 211) from 13 tertiary academic medical centers in Europe (the European EUS Elastography Multicentric Study Group). We used postprocessing software analysis to compute individual frames of elastography movies recorded by retrieving hue histogram data from a dynamic sequence of EUS elastography into a numeric matrix. The data then were analyzed in an extended neural network analysis, to automatically differentiate benign from malignant patterns. The neural computing approach had 91.14% training accuracy (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.87%-92.42%) and 84.27% testing accuracy (95% CI, 83.09%-85.44%). These results were obtained using the 10-fold cross-validation technique. The statistical analysis of the classification process showed a sensitivity of 87.59%, a specificity of 82.94%, a positive predictive value of 96.25%, and a negative predictive value of 57.22%. Moreover, the corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.91%-0.97%), which was significantly higher than the values obtained by simple mean hue histogram analysis, for which the area under the receiver operating characteristic was 0.85. Use of the artificial intelligence methodology via artificial neural networks supports the medical decision process, providing fast and accurate diagnoses.

1202: Clinical Application of Ultrasound Elastography for Diagnosis of Parathyroid Carcinoma

1202: Clinical Application of Ultrasound Elastography for Diagnosis of Parathyroid Carcinoma