肝脏剪切波速评价肝纤维化程度

目的探讨肝脏剪切波速(SWV)评价肝纤维化程度的临床价值。方法运用声触诊组织量化技术测量115例不同程度肝纤维化患者的肝脏SWV,分析SWV与患者各项临床指标之间的相关性,绘制ROC曲线评价SWV对肝纤维化的诊断效能。结果肝脏SWV与患者年龄、球蛋白、总胆红素、纤维化分级、脂肪变性分级存在相关性(P均<0.05),其中与纤维化分级的相关关系最密切(β=0.431)。以1.32、1.53、1.79、2.03m/s作为诊断纤维化分级≥1、≥2、≥3、=4的阈值,其曲线下面积分别为0.802、0.858、0.824、0.908。结论肝脏SWV测值可直接反映肝脏质地,与纤维化病理分级显著相关,可无创评价肝纤维化程度。     

超声造影联合声触诊组织成像定量技术对乳腺癌前哨淋巴结转移的评估

目的探讨超声造影（CEUS）联合声触诊组织成像定量（VTIQ）技术在术前评估乳腺癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）转移中的临床价值。 方法收集2019年6月至2020年1月因乳腺癌收住哈尔滨医科大学附属第一医院的患者,共72例患者的72个SLN纳入研究。所有患者均行手术治疗并取得病理结果,术前均行常规超声、CEUS及剪切波弹性成像检查。根据术后病理结果将SLN分为转移组21个和非转移组51个。比较2组SLN的超声造影模式及VTIQ剪切波速度（SWV）值。绘制ROC曲线比较超声造影、SWV及联合诊断预测乳腺癌SLN转移的效能。 结果转移性SLN与非转移性SLN的CEUS增强模式比较,差异有统计学意义（χ²=25.53,P=0.000）,2组VTIQ的SWV最大、最小、平均值比较,差异均有统计学意义（t=7.79、7.12、8.75,P均=0.000）。CEUS判断SLN转移的ROC曲线下面积（AUC）为0.829,最佳截断值为1.5,即I型增强模式为非转移性,II、III、IV型增强模式为转移性。以最佳截断值为SLN转移的判定标准,敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为85.71%、70.59%、54.54%、92.31%。绘制SWV最大值、最小值及平均值诊断SLN转移的ROC曲线,AUC分别为0.910、0.873、0.937,最佳截断值分别为3.06、2.23、2.64 m/s。以SWV平均值2.64 m/s为判定标准,敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为76.19%、94.23%、88.89%和90.74%。联合CEUS与VTIQ诊断SLN转移的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为95.24%、96.08%、90.91%、96.08%。绘制CEUS与VTIQ联合方法诊断SLN转移的ROC曲线,AUC为0.957。 结论CEUS联合VTIQ技术可以提高乳腺癌淋巴结转移的诊断效能,为乳腺癌术前腋窝淋巴结评估提供可靠依据。     

声触诊组织定量技术对糖尿病肾病患者肾损害的评估价值

目的探讨声触诊组织定量（VTQ）技术诊断糖尿病肾病（DN）的价值。 方法收集2017年3月至2019年3月在西南医科大学附属医院内分泌科临床确诊的糖尿病患者79例，根据尿蛋白排泄率（UAER）分为极微量蛋白尿组（31例）、微量蛋白尿组（27例）及大量蛋白尿组（21例），选择30例健康体检者作为健康对照组。应用VTQ技术测量各组研究对象的肾皮质剪切波传播速度（SWV），采用单因素方差分析比较不同组间SWV的差异，组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验，采用Pearson相关分析分析SWV值变化及与UAER之间的相关性，构建SWV的受试者操作特征（ROC）曲线。 结果随着DN患者肾实质损害程度的加重，SWV值逐渐降低，健康对照组、极微量蛋白尿组、微量蛋白尿组及大量蛋白尿组肾组织SWV值分别为：（3.31±0.45）m/s、（3.12±0.35）m/s、（2.56±0.08）m/s和（1.96±0.07）m/s，其中微量蛋白尿组和大量蛋白尿组SWV值较健康对照组和极微量蛋白尿组明显降低，差异具有统计学意义（t=8.973、16.155、8.653、17.931，P均<0.001）。患者肾皮质SWV与UAER存在负相关（r=-0.802，P<0.001）。SWV诊断早期DN的ROC曲线下面积为0.783，当截断值为3.31 m/s时，敏感度和特异度分别为86.2%和70.0%。 结论VTQ技术可无创定量评价DN患者肾实质弹性变化，SWV值与UAER具有较好的负相关关系，是评价DN患者早期肾损害的有效指标。     

剪切波弹性成像在肌筋膜疼痛综合征中的临床应用价值

目的应用剪切波弹性成像观察肌筋膜疼痛综合征患者肌筋膜疼痛触发点(MTrPs)处肌肉弹性改变情况,观察其在中医手法治疗中的应用。方法收集我院收治的60例肌筋膜疼痛综合征患者(观察组)和60例健康体检者(对照组)为研究对象,均行剪切波弹性成像检测,比较观察组与对照组肌肉杨氏模量值(E)、组织剪切波速度(SWV)、上斜方肌厚度、目测类比等级(VAS)评分。以后期病理生理学检测结果为标准,绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析剪切波弹性成像诊断MTrPs的价值。根据观察组患者定位MTrPs方式差异分为2个亚组:常规组(30例)和辅助组(30例),对比常规组与辅助组治疗前和治疗后15 d的VAS评分、疼痛分级指数(PRI)评分、现有疼痛强度(PPI)评分,以及治疗1、2、3个疗程后的疼痛缓解显效率。结果观察组MTrPs处肌肉E、SWV、上斜方肌厚度、VAS评分均高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示,剪切波弹性成像诊断MTrPs的曲线下面积为0.948,敏感性为95.24%,特异性为94.44%,诊断准确率为95.00%。通过对比疗效发现,辅助组1、2、3个疗程治疗后的疼痛缓解显效率均显著高于常规组,治疗后15 d的VAS评分、PRI评分、PPI评分均低于常规组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论剪切波弹性成像评估肌筋膜疼痛综合征患者MTrPs处肌肉弹性改变具有较高的特异性和敏感性,有助于中医手法治疗定位,具有重要的临床价值。     

中期妊娠剪切波弹性成像预测双胎妊娠自发性早产

目的 观察剪切波弹性成像(SWE)于中期妊娠预测双胎妊娠自发性早产(SPTB)的价值.方法 前瞻性纳入86名产前超声诊断为双胎妊娠的孕妇,于中期妊娠分别采用常规超声及SWE测量宫颈长度(CL)及剪切波速度(SWV),观察其预测SPTB的效能.结果 最终51名孕妇发生SPTB(SPTB组)、35名未发生SPTB(非SPT...     

脾剪切波速度与肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血的关系

目的 探讨脾剪切波速度(SWV)对肝硬化食管静脉曲张破裂出血(EVB)的预测价值.方法 应用声触诊组织量化(VTQ)技术测量99例受试者的脾SWV值,包括69例乙肝后肝硬化患者(出血组36例、非出血组33例)和30名健康志愿者(对照组),比较各组脾SWV值的差异,分析脾SWV值与EVB的关系.结果 脾SWV值在各组间差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05);脾SWV值与EVB发生率呈正相关(r=0.68,P<0.05);脾SWV值诊断EVB的临界值为3.54 m/s,敏感度、特异度分别为81.3%、84.6%,ROC曲线下面积为0.89.结论 VTQ技术测量的脾SWV值可用于预测肝硬化患者EVB的风险,具有重要临床应用价值.     

声辐射力脉冲成像技术对脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样软斑块质地的检测

目的 应用声辐射力脉冲成像(acoustic radiation force imaging,ARFI)技术定量评价脑梗死和非脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样软斑块的质地.方法 71例颈动脉粥样软斑块患者分为脑梗死组(31例)与非脑梗死组(40例),分别对各个斑块行ARFI检查,记录各斑块的剪切波传播速度(shear wave velocities,SWV).对两组斑块的SWV进行比较.结果 脑梗死组软斑的SWV比非脑梗死组慢,差异有统计学意义(P=0.027).绘制ROC曲线,以斑块组织SWV=1.262 m/s为截点预测脑梗死的敏感性和特异性分别为67.7％和70.0％.结论 ARFI技术可对颈动脉粥样软斑块质地进行定量检测,以预测脑梗死的发生.     

2型糖尿病患者跟腱病变的超声特征

目的利用剪切波弹性成像(SWE)评估2型糖尿病(T2DM)跟腱截面积、周长、厚径及生物学弹性的变化,并探讨T2DM患者跟腱剪切波速度与糖化血红蛋白水平之间的相关性。方法收集T2DM患者及健康体检志愿者各50例。测量跟腱中段横截面积、周长及厚径,剪切波弹性成像测量该处跟腱弹性的剪切波速度(SWV),记录T2DM患者的入院糖化血红蛋白值,绘制剪切波速度与T2DM患者糖化血红蛋白水平的相关性散点图。结果受试者左、右侧中段跟腱弹性对比及性别间对比均无统计学意义(P>0.05);对照组跟腱各参数较A组均无统计学意义(P>0.05),较B组仅SWV值有统计学意义(P<0.05),较C组跟腱周长、厚径、截面积及SWV均有显著差异,且差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);A组较B组仅SWV有统计学差异(P<0.05),A组较C组除周长无统计学意义外,其余参数均有统计学差异(P<0.05);B组较C组截面积与SWV值两参数统计学差异显著(P<0.05)。相关性分析显示,糖化血红蛋白水平与跟腱SWV值显著相关(r=0.601,P<0.05),糖化血红蛋白值越高对跟腱生物学弹性的影响也就越大。结论SWE技术可定量评估T2DM患者跟腱生物学弹性的改变,为临床医师在预防糖尿病下肢病变的过程中提供参考。     

声辐射力脉冲弹性成像诊断干燥综合征涎腺病变

目的 探讨声辐射力脉冲弹性成像（ARFI）诊断干燥综合征（SS）涎腺病变的价值。方法 收集SS患者38例（SS组）及同期健康志愿者29名（对照组）,以声触诊组织量化（VTQ）技术对所有受检者双侧腮腺和颌下腺行ARFI,检测其剪切波速度（SWV）;绘制ROC曲线,获得SWV诊断SS的最佳阈值,采用Pearson相关系数分析SWV值与实验室指标的相关性。结果 SS组腮腺、颌下腺SWV值均高于对照组（P均<0.01）。ARFI诊断腮腺SS的最佳阈值2.14 m/s,敏感度、特异度、Youden指数及曲线下面积（AUC）分别为94.7%、86.2%、0.809及0.971。ARFI诊断颌下腺SS的最佳阈值1.94 m/s,敏感度、特异度、Youden指数及AUC分别为86.8%、82.8%、0.696及0.899。腮腺SWV值与SS患者的血沉（ESR）、IgG、类风湿因子水平呈正相关（P均<0.05）;颌下腺SWV值与SS患者的IgA、ESR、IgG水平呈正相关（P均<0.05）。结论 ARFI诊断SS具有较高价值,可定量提供SS腺体的硬度值,并可反映疾病活动状况,进而对疗效进行评估。     

血流信号评分联合SWV值对冈上肌肌腱损伤的评估价值

目的 探讨血流信号评分联合剪切波速度(SWV)值对冈上肌肌腱损伤的评估价值。方法 选择2020年8月至2022年8月在本院经临床查体及影像学检查为冈上肌肌腱损伤患者80例,应用能量多普勒超声评估其血流信号评分,应用剪切波弹性成像检测其SWV值。以关节镜探查结果为金标准评估患者肌腱损伤程度,受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评估血流信号评分及SWV值对冈上肌肌腱损伤的诊断价值。结果 本研究纳入的80例冈上肌肌腱损伤患者中,关节镜探查患者肌腱损伤程度,慢性磨损者21例,部分撕裂者32例,全层撕裂者27例。ROC曲线结果显示,血流信号评分联合SWV值单独及联合诊断冈上肌肌腱撕裂的敏感度分别为67.80%、69.49%、98.31%,特异度分别为85.71%、80.95%、80.95%,曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.760、0.735、0.896,联合诊断的敏感度及AUC显著高于各种方法单独诊断(P＜0.05)。结论 血流信号评分联合SWV值应用于冈上肌肌腱损伤程度的评估,可有效提高患者肌腱撕裂的诊断敏感度,提高诊断效能。     

Comparison Between Different Manufacturers’ 2-D and Point Shear Wave Elastography Techniques in Staging Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease Using Liver Biopsy as the Reference Standard: A Prospective Study

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of 2-D shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease by comparing its performance with that of point shear wave elastography (pSWE) using liver histological staging as the reference standard. In this ethics committee-approved, single-institution prospective study, pSWE and 2-D SWE velocity measurements were obtained in 121 adult patients (age: 18–70 y, median: 45 y) immediately before a liver biopsy for chronic liver disease. Shear wave velocity (SWV) and Ishak scores were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman's correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Youden's index was used to determine the optimal cutoff point. There was no technical failure using pSWE and 2-D SWE. The mean difference for SWV between pSWE and 2-D SWE was 0.0223 (limits of agreement: –1.1009, 1.1145). Values for both pSWE and 2-D SWE were significantly correlated with fibrosis stage (Spearman's ρ = 0.606, p < 0.0001; ρ = 0.722, p < 0.001 respectively). The area under the ROC curve differentiating F ≥3 was 0.855 (95% confidence interval: 0.778–0.932) for pSWE and 0.884 (95% CI: 0.817–0.951) for 2-D SWE. The AUC for differentiating F ≥5 was 0.890 (95% CI: 0.826–0.954) for pSWE and 0.926 (95% CI: 0.88–0.973) for 2-D SWE. This study indicates that 2-D SWE provides feasible and accurate assessment of liver fibrosis, comparable to that provided by pSWE from two different manufacturers’ machines.     

实时剪切波超声弹性成像技术评估肌肉减少症患者骨骼肌弹性模量的研究

摘 要 目的 研究肌肉减少症患者股四头肌、腘绳肌和肱二头肌长轴剪切波速度（SWV）值特征,探讨实时剪切波超声弹性成像技术（SWE）评估肌肉减少症患者肌肉状态的应用价值。方法 选择22例肌肉减少症患者（病变组）和21例同期年龄、性别匹配的健康体检者（对照组）,应用剪切波超声弹性成像技术,获取病变组和对照组优势侧的股四头肌4块肌肉［股外侧肌（VL）,股直肌（RF）,股内侧肌（VM）和股中间肌（VI）］,腘绳肌3块肌肉［股二头肌（BF）,半腱肌（ST）和半膜肌（SM）］和肱二头肌（BB）松弛状态下长轴SWV值,并进行对比分析。结果 松弛状态下病变组与对照组的VL、RF、VM、VI、BF、ST、SM和BB肌肉的SWV数值差异有显著统计学意义(均P＜0.001)。松弛状态下病变组与对照组比较,VL、RF、VM、VI、BF、ST、SM和BB肌肉的SWV数值分别降低7.8%、7.0%、7.3%、7.3%、7.1%、7.3%、6.5%和6.7%。与对照组比较,病变组SM长轴的SWV值降低最小,VL长轴的SWV值降低最为显著。年龄和BMI指数均为老年人骨骼肌弹性模量的影响因素。结论 实时剪切波超声弹性成像技术可检测肌肉减少症患者较大骨骼肌弹性差异,为评估肌肉减少症患者肌肉状态提供了一种新的检测方法。     

剪切波弹性成像鉴别诊断乳腺BI-RADS 4A类病灶良恶性的价值

目的 探讨剪切波弹性成像鉴别诊断乳腺影像报告和数据系统(BI-RADS)4A类病灶良恶性的价值.方法 回顾性分析131例乳腺病变患者(共133个BI-RADS 4A类病灶)的常规超声及剪切波弹性成像检查资料,根据病理结果分为良性组110个和恶性组23个.获取并比较两组病灶的剪切波速度最大值(SWVmax)、剪切波速度最...     

Predicting Prognostic Factors of Breast Cancer Using Shear Wave Elastography

The purpose of the study described here was to investigate the correlation between histologic factors, including immunohistochemical factors, related to the prognosis of breast cancer and shear wave elastography (SWE) measurements. One hundred twenty-two breast cancers from 116 women were subjected to sonoelastography. Of the SWE features, mean and maximum elasticity and SWE ratio were extracted. The SWE ratio was calculated as the ratio of the stiffness of a portion of the lesion to that of a similar region of interest in fatty tissue. High ratios indicate stiffer lesions. The Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used for statistical analysis. Estrogen receptor negativity, progesterone receptor negativity, p53 positivity, Ki-67 positivity, high nuclear grade, high histologic grade and large tumor (invasive) size were associated with a significantly high SWE ratio (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis yielded SWE ratio cutoff values of 2.74–3.69 for significant immunohistochemical factors and 4.21 for the basal-like subtype by maximizing specificity while ensuring more than 80% sensitivity. Breast cancers with aggressive histologic features had high SWE ratios. Shear wave elastography may provide useful information for determining prognosis.     

剪切波弹性成像诊断18F-FDG PET/CT显像甲状腺局灶性高代谢偶发瘤

目的 探讨超声剪切波弹性成像对¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT显像高代谢的甲状腺局灶性良恶性偶发瘤的诊断价值。方法 对因非甲状腺疾病接受¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT显像、并存在甲状腺局灶性高代谢偶发瘤的61例患者（67个病灶）行超声剪切波弹性成像,测量偶发瘤的剪切波速度（SWV）,联合常规二维超声判断甲状腺偶发瘤的良恶性,并与病理结果对照,比较良恶性偶发瘤间SWV值的差异,以ROC曲线评价SWV值的诊断效能。结果 67个高代谢偶发瘤中,恶性38个,良性29个。常规二维超声联合剪切波弹性成像诊断恶性偶发瘤的敏感度为89.47%（34/38）,特异度为86.21%（25/29）,准确率为88.06%（59/67）。良性和恶性偶发瘤的SWV分别为（2.06±0.75）m/s和（4.64±1.75）m/s,差异有统计学意义（t=8.133,P<0.001）。ROC曲线分析结果显示,SWV值诊断恶性偶发瘤的AUC为0.946（P<0.001）,临界值为2.28 m/s时,敏感度为97.4%,特异度为82.8%,约登指数最大,为0.802。结论 超声剪切波弹性成像对¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT显像高代谢甲状腺局灶性偶发瘤具有较高诊断价值,以SWV=2.28 m/s为临界值时诊断效能最大。     

声脉冲辐射力弹性成像技术在小儿黄疸中的应用

目的探讨声触诊组织量化技术评价新生儿（年龄≤28 d）和婴儿（28 d<年龄≤90 d）黄疸肝损伤的临床应用价值。 方法选取2014年10月至2015年5月在北京军区总医院儿童医院收治的183例黄疸患儿,根据临床诊断分为生理性黄疸（124例）与病理性黄疸（59例）2组,病理性黄疸组中依据黄疸天数分为3个亚组,同时选取同期健康新生儿及婴儿162例作为对照组。对各组新生儿和婴儿肝脏进行声脉冲辐射力弹性成像检查,获取剪切波速度（SWV）测值,比较各组间的剪切波平均速度的差异。 结果生理性黄疸组肝脏SWV值为（1.13±0.08）m/s,病理性黄疸组肝脏SWV值为（1.20±0.12）m/s,正常组肝脏SWV值为（1.11±0.09）m/s,3组比较差异具有统计学意义（F=11.658,P<0.05）。病理性黄疸组与健康及生理性黄疸新生儿的SWV水平差异均有统计学意义（t=3.548,4.823,P值均<0.01）,生理性黄疸组与健康组相比,SWV水平差异无统计学意义（t=1.454,P>0.05）。不同天数黄疸亚组间SWV水平差异具有统计学意义（F=5.619,P<0.01）。 结论声触诊组织量化技术用于新生儿和婴儿黄疸肝脏硬度的检测,为新生儿和婴儿黄疸类型及胆汁淤积程度的判断提供了一种新的无创,可定量的方法,有利于患儿肝脏受损程度的监测,从而使黄疸患儿得到及时治疗。     

Point Shear Wave Elastography to Evaluate and Monitor Changing Portal Venous Pressure in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis

This study evaluated whether the stiffness of the liver and spleen, measured using the point shear wave elastography (pSWE) technique, correlates with portal venous pressure (PVP) and whether the result extends to estimate the diminishing change in PVP (ΔPVP) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. We evaluated the data of 67 prospectively enrolled patients who underwent both transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and pSWE. The stiffness of liver and spleen were evaluated by measuring shear wave velocity (SWV) to determine the statistical correlation with PVP. We also analyzed whether change in SWV (ΔSWV) correlates with ΔPVP. The correlations were assessed with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate diagnostic capacity of ΔSWV. Spleen stiffness (SS) was positively correlated with PVP before and after TIPS (p < 0.002), although no correlation between liver stiffness and PVP was detected. A strong relationship between ΔSWV in SS and ΔPVP change in portal hypertension (r = 0.871) was also found in the overall population. The area under the ROC curve for the diagnosis of TIPS technical success was 0.869 and at a ΔSWV cut-off value of 0.36 m/s sensitivity was 77%. Measurement of SS can be used for non-invasive assessment and monitoring of PVP in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.     

Stratifying Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis With the Non-invasive Ultrasound Markers Shear Wave Dispersion Slope and Shear Wave Velocity: An Animal Study

We evaluated the significance of the ultrasound (US) markers shear wave dispersion slope (SWDS) and shear wave velocity (SWV) for identification of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and high-risk NASH; the latter was defined as the presence of steatohepatitis, a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) ≥4 or a fibrosis stage ≥2. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to two groups: the study (n = 30) and control (n = 6) groups. To initiate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, study group rats were fed a diet deficient in methionine and choline. All rats were examined using ultrasonography to obtain the SWDS and SWV parameters of the liver at the same time points. Fatty liver pathological grades were determined after euthanasia; the livers were categorized in the normal (n = 6), NAFL (non-alcoholic fatty liver) (n = 10) and NASH (n = 20) subgroups based on the NAS scoring system. They were also categorized into subgroups F0 (n = 22), F1 (n = 3), F2 (n = 7) and F3 (n = 4) on the basis of the METAVIR (Meta-analysis of Histological Data in Viral Hepatitis) scoring system. Measurement differences between various grades were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the Mann–Whitney U-test. We used logistic regression to calculate a combination of the two parameters for combined assessment of parameters. The diagnostic value of SWDS, SWV and the two-variable model was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. This analysis revealed stepwise increases in SWDS and SWV with increasing NAFLD severity. The accuracy of SWDS in diagnosing NASH was good (area under the ROC curve [AUC]: 0.88) and was superior to that of SWV (AUC: 0.76). The combination of SWV and SWDS exhibited higher performance (AUC: 0.90). SWV was higher than SWDS in participants with a fibrosis grade ≥2 (high-risk NASH). For identification of high-risk NASH, SWV exhibited the best diagnostic performance (AUC: 0.89), which was equivalent to that of the two-variable model (AUC: 0.88) and slightly higher than that of SWDS (AUC: 0.85). This study indicates that of the US-based markers, SWDS outperforms SWV in identifying NASH in rats and that combining the two markers may increase their clinical utility in guiding NAFLD and NASH treatment.     

Tissue Elasticity Quantification by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse for the Assessment of Renal Allograft Function

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) quantification, a novel ultrasound-based elastography method, has been used to measure liver fibrosis. However, few studies have been performed on the use of ARFI quantification in kidney examinations. We evaluated renal allograft stiffness using ARFI quantification in patients with stable renal function (n = 52) and those with biopsy-proven allograft dysfunction (n = 50). ARFI quantification, given as shear wave velocity (SWV), was performed. The resistance index (RI) was calculated by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound, and clinical and laboratory data were collected. Morphologic changes in transplanted kidneys were diagnosed by an independent pathologist. Mean SWV was more significantly negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = –0.657, p < 0.0001) than was RI (r = –0.429, p = 0.0004) in transplanted kidneys. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the sensitivity and specificity of quantitative ultrasound in the diagnosis of renal allograft dysfunction were 72.0% and 86.5% (cutoff value = 2.625), respectively. The latter values were better than those of RI, which were 62.0% and 69.2% (cutoff value = 0.625), respectively. The coefficient of variation for repeat SWV measurements of the middle part of transplanted kidney was 8.64%, and inter-observer agreement on SWV was good (Bland-Altman method, ICC = 0.890). In conclusion, tissue elasticity quantification by ARFI is more accurate than the RI in diagnosing renal allograft function.     

Thyroid Nodules and Shear Wave Elastography: A New Tool in Thyroid Cancer Detection

This study determines the performance of virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ), a non-invasive shear wave elastography method for measuring thyroid nodule (TN) stiffness, in distinguishing benign from malignant TNs. This prospective study evaluates 707 TNs in 676 patients with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Before FNAB, both conventional B-mode ultrasound and shear wave elastography were performed. Surgical resection was recommended for FNAB results that were not clearly benign. Surgical pathology confirmed 82 malignant TNs. The receiver operating curve identified a single cut-off of 3.54 m/s as the maximum shear wave velocity (SWV) for predicting thyroid cancer (TC). The sensitivity and specificity were 79.27% and 71.52%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 26.75% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 96.34%. Compared with B-mode US features for predicting malignancy, SWV ≥3.54 m/s has a higher sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV. TN stiffness measured by VTIQ-generated shear wave elastography is an independent predictor of TC.