Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of adrenal glands in healthy adult dogs

Abstract

To describe the ARFI elastography in the evaluation of the adrenal glands in adult dogs, to evaluate the stiffness of adrenal parenchyma and to determine the qualitative and quantitative standards of the ARFI technique, which have not yet been described in veterinary medicine. Sixty adrenal glands from thirty healthy adult dogs were evaluated by B-mode and qualitative and quantitative ARFI elastography to assess the stiffness of healthy parenchyma and to determine the quality and quantity (shear velocity) standards of ARFI technique in body, cranial and caudal adrenal poles. Findings of ultrasonography evaluations were normal. Qualitative elastography showed that adrenal glands were not deformable and presented homogeneous middle-gray areas. The results of shear wave velocity were similar statically (P = 0.3087): 1) left adrenal -1.42 m/s for cranial polar, 1.31 m/s for body region, and 1.71 m/s for caudal polar; 2) right adrenal -1.42 m/s for cranial polar, 1.74 m/s for body region and 1.63 m/s for caudal pole. Quantitative and qualitative ARFI elastography of dogs' adrenal glands is feasible, well tolerated, easily implemented and may provide baseline data in the study of this structure to allow the use of ARFI.Keywords: canine, adrenal, ultrasound (P = 0,3087) RESUMO Objetivou-se descrever a técnica de elastografia ARFI na avaliação das glândulas adrenais em cães adultos, visando avaliar a rigidez do parênquima adrenal saudável e determinar os padrões qualitativos e quantitativos (velocidade de cisalhamento) da técnica ARFI, ainda não descritos em medicina veterinária. Sessenta glândulas adrenais de 30 cães adultos saudáveis foram avaliadas pela ultrassonografia modo B e pela elastografia ARFI qualitativa e quantitativa para avaliar a rigidez do parênquima saudável e determinar a velocidade de cisalhamento e padrões qualitativos da ARFI no corpo, polos adrenais cranial e caudal. As características ultrassonográficas das glândulas foram normais. A elastografia qualitativa mostrou que glândulas adrenais não se apresentaram deformáveis e homogêneas (coloração cinza médio). Os resultados da velocidade de cisalhamento foram semelhantes

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

“…With the development of novel elastographic techniques, numerous studies have been performed on the use of elastography to assess muscle, tendon and thyroid disorders as well as neoplastic disorders (Bhatia et al 2012). In veterinary medicine, several studies have looked into the clinical application of elastography (Kallel et al 1999, Fernandez et al 2017, Glińska--Suchocka et al 2017). The results of these studies indicate that elastography may be used in the diagnosis of mammary gland, testicular, hepatic, adrenal and prostate lesions.…”