声辐射力脉冲成像技术检测健康成人髌韧带的可行性研究

Feasibility of evaluation on patellar ligaments in healthy adults by acoustic radiation force impulse imaging

目的初步探讨声辐射力脉冲成像(ARFI)技术评价健康成人髌韧带的可行性。方法由两名超声医师分别对44例健康成人的双侧髌韧带行二维超声和ARFI检查,测量髌韧带厚度和纵、横切面近、中、远段的剪切波速度,每一医师对同一受检者测量两次。结果正常成人髌韧带厚度2.89~3.10 mm,平均(2.99±0.33)mm。ARFI技术获得正常髌韧带剪切波速度:同一髌韧带纵、横切面近、中、远段剪切波速度比较差异均有统计学意义(t=5.104、4.392、7.846,均P=0.000),但纵、横切面上同一髌韧带近、中、远段的剪切波速度比较差异均无统计学意义(F=1.252、1.790,P=0.290、0.171)。重复性检测显示ARFI测量具有较高的一致性,组内相关系数为0.78~0.98。结论 ARFI技术能够测量髌韧带的剪切波速度,具有较好的一致性,可以快速、方便地评价髌韧带弹性。

Objective To investigate the feasibility of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in assessing patellar ligaments in healthy adults.Methods Bilateral patellar ligaments of 44 healthy volunteers were enrolled in and examined by two independent sonographers using two-dimensional ultrasound and ARFI.The upper,middle,and distal part of patellar ligaments were detected in both longitudinal and transverse section.The thickness of ligments and the shear wave velocity were measured and compared.Results The mean thickness of patellar ligaments in healthy volunteers was (2.99±0.33)mm (range 2.89~3.10 mm).There were significant difference of shear wave velocity among the upper,middle,and the distal part of ligments detected in both longitudinal and transverse section (t=5.104,4.392,7.846,all P=0.000).However,no significant difference of shear wave velocity for each part measured between two sections were found (F=1.252,1.790,P=0.290,0.171).Repeatability testing showed that ARFI measurements were of high consistency and accuracy.The correlation coefficent was 0.78 ~0.98.Conclusion ARFI is able to detect shear wave velocity of patellar ligaments with good consistency,and it is potentially helpful to evaluate the elasticity of patellar ligaments.