Application of Real-time Ultrasound Elastography in Diagnosing Benign and Malignant Thyroid Solid Nodules

Objective Real-time ultrasound elastography(US-E) is a helpful tool in diagnosing thyroid nodules.This study aims to evaluate thyroid solid nodules,to establish the accuracy of US-E in providing information on the nature of these nodules,and to assess the clinical value of elasticity scores(ES) and strain ratio(SR) in differentiating thyroid solid nodules and to explore its distribution characteristics using pathological analysis as reference. Methods Traditional ultrasonography and US-E were performed on 131 thyroid solid nodules(99 benign ones and 32 malignant ones) in 120 patients(78 females and 41 males).Three radiologists evaluated the nodules based on a four-degree elasticity scoring system.The nodules were classified according to the ES as soft(ES 1-2) or hard(ES 3-4).The SR was calculated online. Results The sensitivity and specificity of the ES for thyroid cancer diagnosis were 78%and 80%,respectively.SR values > 2.9 used as a standard to distinguish benign from malignant nodules had a sensitivity of 87%and a specificity of 92%.The SR of the benign lesions was 1.64±1.37,which was significantly different from that of malignant lesions,which was 4.96±2.13(P<0.01). Conclusions Both the ES and SR were higher in malignant nodules than those in benign ones.Real-time US-E was a useful index in the differential diagnosis of thyroid solid nodules.It can provide quantitative information on thyroid nodule characterization and improve diagnostic confidence.

Application of real-time shear wave elastography to Achilles tendon hardness evaluation in older adults

BACKGROUND Real-time shear wave elastography(SWE)is a non-invasive imaging technique used to measure tissue stiffness by generating and tracking shear waves in real time.This advanced ultrasound-based method provides quantitative information regarding tissue elasticity,offering valuable insights into the mechanical properties of biological tissues.However,the application of real-time SWE in the musculoskeletal system and sports medicine has not been extensively studied.AIM To explore the practical value of real-time SWE for assessing Achilles tendon hardness in older adults.METHODS A total of 60 participants were enrolled in the present study,and differences in the elastic moduli of the bilateral Achilles tendons were compared among the following categories:(1)Age:55-60,60-65,and 65-70-years-old;(2)Sex:Male and female;(3)Laterality:Left and right sides;(4)Tendon state:Relaxed and tense state;and(5)Tendon segment:Proximal,middle,and distal.RESULTS There were no significant differences in the elastic moduli of the bilateral Achilles tendons when comparing by age or sex(P>0.05).There were,however,significant differences when comparing by tendon side,state,or segment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Real-time SWE plays a significant role compared to other examination methods in the evaluation of Achilles tendon hardness in older adults.

Real-time Shear Wave Elastography Assessment of Muscle Elasticity in Patients with Renal Failure

Objective:To explore the value of real-time elastic shear wave in evaluating muscle elasticity in patients with renal failure.Methods:50 patients with chronic renal failure from January 2019 to December 2022 were randomly selected as the experimental group,and 50 healthy patients aged 21-61 during the same period were selected as the control group,and the basic information of the patients,including age,gender,body mass index,etc.,were collected.Besides,the Young's modulus of the two groups of patients were observed and analyzed.Results:The Young's modulus values of left and right gastrocnemius muscles in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and there was no statistical difference between the left and right sides of the experimental group and the control group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Real-time shear wave elastography provides a non-invasive,real-time and effective tool for the assessment of muscle elasticity in patients with renal failure.Through further research and optimization,real-time shear wave elastography will play a greater role in the prevention and treatment of patients with renal failure,improving the quality of life and prognosis of patients.

Novel approach of ultrasound-guided lateral recess block for a patient with lateral recess stenosis: A case report

BACKGROUND Ultrasound guide technology,which can provide real-time visualization of the needle tip and tissues and avoid many adverse events,is widely used in mini-mally invasive therapy.However,the studies on ultrasound-guided Lateral recess block(LRB)are limited,this is probably because there is no recognized standard method for ultrasound scanning.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided LRB in patients with lateral recess stenosis(LRS).CASE SUMMARY A 65-year-old patient complained of low back pain accompanied occasionally by pain and numbness in the left lower limb.Physical examination showed ten-derness on the spinous process and paraspinal muscles from L1 to S1,extensor hallucis longus and tibialis anterior weakness(muscle strength:4-),and a positive straight leg raising test in the left lower limb(60°).Magnetic resonance imaging showed L4–L5 disc degeneration with left LRS and nerve root entrapment.Subsequently,the patient was diagnosed with LRS.This patient was treated with a novel ultrasound-guided LRB approach.The patient’s symptoms significantly improved without any complications at 1 wk postoperatively and at the 3-month follow-up.CONCLUSION This is the first report on the LRS treatment with ultrasound-guided LRB from the contralateral spinous process along the inner side of the articular process by out-plane technique.Further studies are expected to investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided LRB for patients with LRS.

Assessment of Fibrosis during the Development of Fatty Liver in Rabbits using Real-time Shear-wave Elastography

Nonalcoholic and alcoholic rabbit models of fatty liver were established by feeding on high-fat diet and alcohol, respectively, and fatty liver stiffness at different pathological stages was as- sessed with real-time shear-wave elastography （SWE）, so as to investigate the fibrosis process during the development of fatty liver. The fatty liver stiffness of rabbit in nonalcoholic and alcoholic groups was higher than that in the control group, and that in alcohol group was higher than that in the nonalco- holic group （P〈0.01）. The elasticity modulus of liver in fatty liver rabbits of nonalcoholic and alcoholic groups showed a positive correlation with progression of liver fibrosis （P〈0.01）. Real-time SWE, as a noninvasive diagnostic method, can objectively reflect the liver stiffness change and progression of liver fibrosis during the development of fatty liver.

Comparative analysis of conventional ultrasound and shear wave elastography features in primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND Primary breast diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(PB-DLBCL)is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that accounts for<3%of extranodal lymphomas and 1%of breast tumors.Its diagnosis and management are challenging because of its rarity,heterogeneity,and aggressive behavior.Conventional ultrasound(US)is the first-line imaging modality for breast lesions;however,it has limited specificity and accuracy for PB-DLBCL.Shear wave elastography(SWE)is a novel US technique that measures tissue stiffness and may reflect the histological characteristics and biological behavior of breast lesions.AIM To compare the conventional US and SWE features of PB-DLBCL and evaluate their diagnostic performance and prognostic value.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and US images of 32 patients with pathologically confirmed PB-DLBCL who underwent conventional US and SWE before treatment.We analyzed conventional US features(shape,margin,orientation,echo,posterior acoustic features,calcification,and vascularity)and SWE features(mean elasticity value,standard deviation,minimum elasticity value,maximum elasticity value,and lesion-to-fat ratio)of the PB-DLBCL lesions.Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,we determined the optimal cutoff values and diagnostic performance of conventional US and SWE features.We also performed a survival analysis to assess the prognostic value of conventional US and SWE features.RESULTS The results showed that the PB-DLBCL lesions were mostly irregular in shape(84.4%),microlobulated or spiculated in margins(75%),parallel in orientation(65.6%),hypoechoic in echo(87.5%),and had posterior acoustic enhancement(65.6%).Calcification was rare(6.3%)and vascularity was variable(31.3%avascular,37.5%hypovascular,and 31.3%hypervascular).The mean elasticity value of PB-DLBCL lesions was significantly higher than that of benign breast lesions(113.4±46.9 kPa vs 27.8±16.4 kPa,P<0.001).The optimal cutoff value of the mean elasticity for distinguishing PB-DLBCL from benign breast lesions was 54.5 kPa,with a sensitivity of 93.8%,specificity of 92.9%,positive predictive value of 93.8%,negative predictive value of 92.9%,and accuracy of 93.3%.The mean elasticity value was also significantly correlated with Ki-67 expression level(r=0.612,P<0.001),which is a marker of tumor proliferation and aggressiveness.Survival analysis showed that patients with higher mean elasticity values(>54.5 kPa)had worse overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)than those with lower mean elasticity values(<54.5 kPa)(P=0.038 for OS and P=0.027 for PFS).CONCLUSION Conventional US and SWE provide useful information for diagnosing and forecasting PB-DLBCL.SWE excels in distinguishing PB-DLBCL from benign breast lesions,reflects tumor proliferation and aggressiveness,and improves disease management.

Diagnostic accuracy of real-time tissue elastography for breast cancer:a meta-analysis

Objective The present study aimed to determine the accuracy of real-time tissue elastography （RTE） for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods The search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and China Biology Medicine databases from inception through December 31, 2014, without language restrictions. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 12.0 and Meta-Disc version 1.4. We calculated the summary statistics for sensitivity （Sen）, specificity （Spe）, positive and negative likelihood ratio （LR＋/LR–）, diagnostic odds ratio （DOR）, and summary receiver operating characteristic （SROC） curve. Results Ten studies that met al inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 608 ma-lignant breast lesions and 1292 benign breast tumors were assessed. Al breast lesions were histological y confirmed after RTE. The pooled Sen was 0.83 （95% CI = 0.79–0.86）; the pooled Spe was 0.86 （95% CI = 0.84–0.88）. The pooled LR＋ was 9.87 （95% CI = 2.66–36.71）; the pooled LR– was 0.20 （95% CI = 0.17–0.23）. The pooled DOR of RTE for the diagnosis of breast cancer was 62.21 （95% CI = 33.88–114.24）. The area under the SROC curve was 0.9334 （standard error = 0.00125）. We found no evidence of publica-tion bias （t = –0.57, P = 0.582）. Conclusion RTE may have high diagnostic accuracy for the dif erential diagnosis of benign and malig-nant breast tumors. RTE may be a good tool for breast cancer diagnosis.

Multiparametric ultrasound as a new concept of assessment of liver tissue damage

Liver disease accounts for approximately 2 million deaths per year worldwide.All chronic liver diseases(CLDs),whether of toxic,genetic,autoimmune,or infectious origin,undergo typical histological changes in the structure of the tissue.These changes may include the accumulation of extracellular matrix material,fats,triglycerides,or tissue scarring.Noninvasive methods for diagnosing CLD,such as conventional B-mode ultrasound(US),play a significant role in diagnosis.Doppler US,when coupled with B-mode US,can be helpful in evaluating the hemodynamics of hepatic vessels and detecting US findings associated with hepatic decompensation.US elastography can assess liver stiffness,serving as a surrogate marker for liver fibrosis.It is important to note that interpreting these values should not rely solely on a histological classification.Contrast-enhanced US(CEUS)provides valuable information on tissue perfusion and enables excellent differentiation between benign and malignant focal liver lesions.Clinical evaluation,the etiology of liver disease,and the patient current comorbidities all influence the interpretation of liver stiffness measurements.These measurements are most clinically relevant when interpreted as a probability of compensated advanced CLD.B-mode US offers a subjective estimation of fatty infiltration and has limited sensitivity for mild steatosis.The controlled attenuation parameter requires a dedicated device,and cutoff values are not clearly defined.Quan-titative US parameters for liver fat estimation include the attenuation coefficient,backscatter coefficient,and speed of sound.These parameters offer the advantage of providing fat quantification alongside B-mode evaluation and other US parameters.Multiparametric US(MPUS)of the liver introduces a new concept for complete noninvasive diagnosis.It encourages examiners to utilize the latest features of an US machine,including conventional B-mode,liver stiffness evaluation,fat quantification,dispersion imaging,Doppler US,and CEUS for focal liver lesion characterization.This comprehensive approach allows for diagnosis in a single examination,providing clinicians worldwide with a broader perspective and becoming a cornerstone in their diagnostic arsenal.MPUS,in the hands of skilled clinicians,becomes an invaluable predictive tool for diagnosing,staging,and monitoring CLD.

Assessment of perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease activity with endoanal ultrasound: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Perianal fistulas pose dual challenges to Crohn's disease(CD)patients.Low patient compliance due to the complexity of existing examination methods plagues the treatment and follow-up management of perianal CD.AIM To determine the accuracy of endoanal ultrasound(EUS)and shear wave elastography(SWE)for evaluating perianal fistulizing CD(PFCD)activity.METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study.A total of 67 patients from August 2022 to December 2023 diagnosed with CD were divided into three groups:Non-anal fistula group(n=23),low-activity perianal fistulas[n=19,perianal disease activity index(PDAI)≤4],high-activity perianal fistulas(n=25,PDAI>4)based on the PDAI.All patients underwent assessments including EUS+SWE,pelvic magnetic resonance[pelvic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)],C-reactive protein,fecal calprotectin,CD activity index,PDAI.RESULTS The percentage of fistulas indicated by pelvic MRI and EUS was consistent at 82%,and there was good consistency in the classification of perianal fistulas(Kappa=0.752,P<0.001).Significant differences were observed in the blood flow Limberg score(χ^(2)=8.903,P<0.05)and shear wave velocity(t=2.467,P<0.05)between group 2 and 3.Shear wave velocity showed a strong negative correlation with magnetic resonance novel index for fistula imaging in CD(Magnifi-CD)score(r=-0.676,P<0.001),a weak negative correlation with the PDAI score(r=-0.386,P<0.05),and a weak correlation between the Limberg score and the PDAI score(r=0.368,P<0.05).CONCLUSION EUS combined with SWE offers a superior method for detecting and quantitating the activity of perianal fistulas in CD patients.It may be the ideal tool to assess PFCD activity objectively for management strategies.

Correlation analysis of real-time three-dimensional ultrasound in diagnosis of left ventricular function, portal hemodynamics and severity of liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis

Objective:To analyze the correlation between real-time three-dimensional ultrasound in diagnosis of left ventricular function, portal hemodynamics and severity of liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods: 90 patients with cirrhosis admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled in the cirrhosis group, and the cirrhosis components were group A, B and C according to the Child-Pauh classification criteria. During the same period, 90 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination were selected as the control group;real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography was performed to examine left ventricular function and portal hemodynamic parameters;Pearson correlation was used to analyze left ventricular function, portal hemodynamics and liver. Functional severity relationship.Results: The left heart E and E/A levels in the cirrhosis group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the A level was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The Dpv and Q levels in the cirrhosis group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the level of Vpv was significantly lower than that of healthy controls (P<0.05). There were significant differences in E, A and E/A levels between different Child-Paugh patients (P<0.05). There were significant differences in portal hemodynamics Dpv, Vpv and Q between the different Child-Paugh grades, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05);left heart function E and E/A and liver function severity There was a significant negative correlation (P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between left cardiac function A and liver function severity (P<0.05). Portal vein hemodynamics Dpv, Vpv and QE were significantly associated with liver function severity. Positive correlation (P<0.05). Conclusion: Real-time three-dimensional ultrasound can effectively detect left ventricular function and portal hemodynamics changes in patients with cirrhosis, and left heart function, portal hemodynamics and liver function severity are significantly correlated.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with elastography in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND Cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) affects the treatment and prognosis of patients. Ultrasound is a common imaging method for detecting cervical lymph nodes in PTC patients; however, it is not accurate in determining lymph node metastasis.AIM To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with elastography in evaluating cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC.METHODS A total of 94 patients with PTC were recruited. According to pathological results,lymph nodes were divided into two groups: metastatic group(n = 50) and reactive group(n = 63). The routine ultrasound findings, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography data were recorded and compared. Logistic regression was used to generate predictive probability distributions for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis with different indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to test the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with elastography based on routine ultrasound in evaluating PTC cervical lymph node metastasis.RESULTS The ratio of long diameter/short diameter(L/S) ≤ 2, irregular marginal morphology, missing lymphatic portal, peripheral or mixed blood flow distribution, peak intensity(PI), non-uniform contrast distribution and elasticity score in the metastatic group were significantly higher than those in the reactive group(P < 0.05). L/S ratio, missing lymphatic portal, PI and elasticity score had a significant influence on the occurrence of PTC cervical lymph node metastasis(P< 0.05). Furthermore, the area under the curve(AUC) for lymph node metastasis diagnosed using the combination of PI ratio, elasticity score, missing lymphatic portal and LS was 0.936, which was significantly higher than the AUC for PI ratio alone. The difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). The fitting equation for the combined diagnosis was logit(P) =-12.341 + 1.482 × L/S ratio + 3.529 ×missing lymphatic portal + 0.392 × PI + 3.288 × elasticity score.CONCLUSION Based on the gray-scale ultrasound, the combination of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography can accurately assess PTC cervical lymph node metastasis.

Endoscopic ultrasound elastography: current status and future perspectives

Elastography is a new ultrasound modality that provides images and measurements related to tissue stiffness. Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) has played an important role in the diagnosis and management of numerous abdominal and mediastinal diseases. Elastography by means of EUS examination can assess the elasticity of tumors in the proximity of the digestive tract that are hard to reach with conventional transcutaneous ultrasound probes, such as pancreatic masses and mediastinal or abdominal lymph nodes, thus improving the diagnostic yield of the procedure. Results from previous studies have promised benefits for EUS elastography in the differential diagnosis of lymph nodes, as well as for assessing masses with pancreatic or gastrointestinal(GI) tract locations. It is important to mention that EUS elastography is not considered a modality that can replace biopsy. However, it may be a useful adjunct, improving the accuracy of EUSfine needle aspiration biopsy(EUS-FNAB) by selecting the most suspicious area to be targeted. Even more, it may be useful for guiding further clinical management when EUS-FNAB is negative or inconclusive. In the present paper we will discuss the current knowledge of EUS elastography, including the technical aspects, along with its applications in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant solid pancreatic masses and lymph nodes, as well as its aid in the differentiation between normal pancreatic tissues and chronic pancreatitis. Moreover, the emergent indication and future perspectives are summarized, such as the benefit of EUS elastography in EUS-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy, and its uses for characterization of lesions in liver, biliary tract, adrenal glands and GI tract.

Endoscopic ultrasound elastography for evaluation of lymph nodes and pancreatic masses:A multicenter study

AIM:To evaluate the ability of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) elastography to distinguish benign from malignant pancreatic masses and lymph nodes.METHODS:A multicenter study was conducted and included 222 patients who underwent EUS examination with assessment of a pancreatic mass(n=121) or lymph node(n=101).The classification as benign or malignant,based on the real time elastography pattern,was compared with the classif ication based on the B-mode EUS images and with the fi nal diagnosis obtained by EUS-guided fi ne needle aspiration(EUS-FNA) and/or by surgical pathology.An interobserver study was performed.RESULTS:The sensitivity and specificity of EUS elastography to differentiate benign from malignant pancreatic lesions are 92.3% and 80.0%,respectively,compared to 92.3% and 68.9%,respectively,for the conventional B-mode images.The sensitivity and specificity of EUS elastography to differentiate benign from malignant lymph nodes was 91.8% and 82.5%,respectively,compared to 78.6% and 50.0%,respectively,for the B-mode images.The kappa coefficient was 0.785 for the pancreatic masses and 0.657 for the lymph nodes.CONCLUSION:EUS elastography is superior compared to conventional B-mode imaging and appears to be able to distinguish benign from malignant pancreatic masses and lymph nodes with a high sensitivity,specificity and accuracy.It might be reserved as a second line examination to help characterise pancreatic masses after negative EUS-FNA and might increase the yield of EUS-FNA for lymph nodes.

Endoscopic ultrasound elastography for differentiating between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and inflammatory masses:A meta-analysis

AIM:To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)elastography for differentiating between pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)and pancreatic inflammatory masses(PIM).METHODS:Electronic databases(updated to December 2012)and manual bibliographical searches were carried out.A meta-analysis of all diagnostic clinical trials evaluating the accuracy of EUS elastography in differentiating PDAC from PIM was conducted.Heterogeneity was assessed among the studies.The metaanalysis was performed to evaluate the accuracy of EUS elastography in differentiating PDAC from PIM in homogeneous studies.RESULTS:Ten studies involving 781 patients were included in the analysis.Significant heterogeneity in sensitivity was observed among the studies(Cochran Q test=24.16,df=9,P=0.0041,I2=62.8%),while heterogeneity in specificity was not observed(Cochran Q test=5.93,df=9,P=0.7473,I2=0.0%).The area under the curve under the Sports Rights Owners Coalition was 0.8227.Evaluation of heterogeneity suggested that the different diagnostic standards used in the included studies were the source of heterogeneity.In studies using the color pattern as the diagnostic standard,the pooled sensitivity,specificity,positive likelihood ratio(LR),negative LR and diagnostic OR were0.99(0.97-1.00),0.76(0.67-0.83),3.36(2.39-4.72),0.03(0.01-0.07)and 129.96(47.02-359.16),respectively.In studies using the hue histogram as the diagnostic standard,the pooled sensitivity,specificity,positive LR,negative LR and diagnostic OR were 0.92(0.89-0.95),0.68(0.57-0.78),2.84(2.05-3.93),0.12(0.08-0.19)and 24.69(12.81-47.59),respectively.CONCLUSION:EUS elastography is a valuable method for the differential diagnosis between PDAC and PIM.And a preferable diagnostic standard should be explored and improvements in specificity are required.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided elastography in the nodal staging of oesophageal cancer

AIM： To assess quantitative endoscopic ultrasound （EUS）- guided elastography in the nodal staging of oesophago- gastric cancers.METHODS： This was a single tertiary centre study as- sessing 50 patients with established oesophago-gastric cancer undergoing EUS-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy （FNAB） of lymph nodes between July 2007 and July 2009. EUS-guided elastography of lymph nodes was performed before EUS-FNAB. Standard EUS charac- teristics were also described. Cytological determination of whether a lymph node was malignant or benign was used as the gold standard for this study. Comparisons of elastography and standard EUS characteristics were made between the cytologically benign and malignant nodes. The main outcome measure was the accuracy of elastography in differentiating between benign and malignant lymph nodes in oesophageal cancers.

Real time endoscopic ultrasound elastography and strain ratio in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions

AIM To evaluate the accuracy of the elastography score combined to the strain ratio in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions(SPL). METHODS A total of 172 patients with SPL identified by endoscopic ultrasound were enrolled in the study to evaluate the efficacy of elastography and strain ratio in differentiating malignant from benign lesions. The semi quantitative score of elastography was represented by the strain ratio method. Two areas were selected, area(A) representing the region of interest and area(B) representing the normal area. Area(B) was then divided by area(A). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV), negative predictive value(NPV), and accuracy were calculated by comparing diagnoses made by elastography, strain ratio and final diagnoses.RESULTS SPL were shown to be benign in 49 patients and malignant in 123 patients. Elastography alone had a sensitivity of 99%, a specificity of 63%, and an accuracy of 88%, a PPV of 87% and an NPV of 96%. The best cut-off level of strain ratio to obtain the maximal area under the curve was 7.8 with a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 77%, PPV of 91%, NPV of 80% and an accuracy of 88%. Another estimated cut off strain ratio level of 3.8 had a higher sensitivity of 99% and NPV of 96%, but with less specificity, PPV and accuracy 53%, 84% and 86%, respectively. Adding both elastography to strain ratio resulted in a sensitivity of 98%, specificity of 77%, PPV of 91%, NPV of 95% and accuracy of 92% for the diagnosis of SPL. CONCLUSION Combining elastography to strain ratio increases the accuracy of the differentiation of benign from malignant SPL.

Endoscopic ultrasound elastography for solid pancreatic lesions

Elastography is one of technologies assisting diagnosis ofsolid pancreatic lesions(SPL). This technology has been previously used for measuring the stiffness of various organs based on a principle of "harder the lesions, higher chance for malignancy". Two elastography techniques; strain and shear wave elastography, are available. For endoscopic ultrasound(EUS), only the former is existing. To interpret results of EUS elastography for SPL, 3 methods are used:(1) pattern recognition;(2) strain ratio; and (3) strain histogram. Based on results of existing studies, these 3 techniques provide high sensitivity but low to moderate specificity and accuracy rate. This review will summarize all available information in order to update current situation of using elastography for an evaluation of SPLs to readers.

Application of Shear Wave Elastography and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Transrectal Prostate Biopsy

Objective To explore the clinical value of ultrasound shear wave elastography(SWE)and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in transrectal prostate biopsy.Methods A total of 54 patients(average age:67.79±12.01 years)in the experimental group underwent transrectal prostate biopsy under the guidance of SWE,while 46 patients(average age:69.22±11.54 years)in the control group underwent transrectal prostate biopsy guided by CEUS.Results There were a total of 451 needles,with an average of 8.35±1.67 needles per patient in the experimental group,and a total of 462 needles,with an average of 10.04±1.33 needles per patient in the control group.The difference in puncture times between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the positive detection rate,sensitivity or specificity between the two groups(P>0.05),but there was a significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy between the two groups(P<0.05).The E_(mean)and E_(max)of prostate cancer were significantly higher in the experimental group than in benign prostatic hyperplasia(P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of E_(mean)was 0.752(S.E.=0.072,95%CI=0.611-0.894,P=0.007),and the best cutoff value was 47.005 kPa.Conclusion In summary,both SWE-and CEUS-guided transrectal prostate biopsy can help find the focus and guide the puncture,and improve the positive detection rate.

Real Time Ultrasound Elastography for the Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of real-time ultrasound elastography (RUE) in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules, with fine needle aspiration cytology analysis as the reference standard. A total of 78 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules who were selected for fine needle aspiration biopsies were examined in this prospective study. 78 nodules in these patients were examined by conventional ultrasound, and ultrasound elastography. The final diagnosis was obtained from cytological findings. Tissue stiffness on ultrasound elastography was scored from 1 (low stiffness over the entire nodule) to 5 (high stiffness over the entire nodule and surrounding tissue). On real-time ultrasound elastography, 47 of 62 benign nodules (76%) had a score of 1 or 2, whereas 15 of 16 malignant nodules had a score of 3 to 5, with sensitivity of 93.7%, specificity of 90%, a positive predictive value of 71%, and a negative predictive value of 98%. Real-time ultrasound elastography is a promising imaging technique that is useful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Utilization of ultrasound elastography could reduce the rate of thyroid biopsies because of its high elasticity being highly associated with benign cytology.

Applications of endoscopic ultrasound elastography in pancreatic diseases: From literature to real life

Elastography is a non-invasive method widely used to measure the stiffness of the tissues,and it is available in most endoscopic ultrasound machines,using either qualitative or quantitative techniques.Endoscopic ultrasound elastography is a tool that should be applied to obtain a complementary evaluation of pancreatic diseases,together with other imaging tests and clinical data.Elastography can be informative,especially when studying pancreatic masses and help the clinician in the differential diagnosis between benign or malignant lesions.However,further studies are necessary to standardize the method,increase the reproducibility and establish definitive cut-offs to distinguish between benign and malignant pancreatic masses.Moreover,even if promising,elastography still provides little information in the evaluation of benign conditions.