An investigation into the variability between different shear wave elastography systems in muscle

Abstract

Aims: The reliability and agreement between shear wave elastography (SWE) systems using different acquisition methods in muscles is not yet established. The objectives were to determine the reliability of a new SWE system on normal resting muscles using different acquisition methods and to compare its performance to an established state-of-the-art system.Material and methods: Small, medium and large ROI sizes in addition to longitudinal, oblique and transverse orientations over five different locations within the rectus femoris muscle were tested using the new system. Results were compared to the established system to test for inter-system reproducibility.Results: Lowest within-subject coefficient of variance (4.3%) andshear wave velocity (1.83 m/s) were associated with the medium ROI and longitudinal orientation from the lateral location. This combination resulted in a strong internal agreement of intra-class correlation of 0.76 (0.57–0.89) for the new system and an almost perfect agreement of 0.92 (0.82–0.97) for the established. Inter-system reproducibility for the best combination was 0.71 (0.48–1) with a mean velocity difference ±95% limits of agreement of 0.07±0.49 m/s.Conclusions: Altering SWE acquisition methods can produce variable results. The new system produced reliable results that are comparable with but not as reliable as the established.

Effects of passive muscle stiffness measured by Shear Wave Elastography, muscle thickness, and body mass index on athletic performance in adolescent female basketball players

“…These methods can be used in quantification of muscle stiffness [12][13][14]. But, SE and ARFI imaging are semi-quantitative methods to show the tissue stiffness.…”

Reliability and quantification of gastrocnemius elasticity at relaxing and at submaximal contracted condition

“…Cortez et al using Supersonic Shear Imaging module (SSI) obtained SWV values in the GCM ranged from 1.89±0.32 to 2.38±0.58 m/s in the longitudinal plane, and from 1.54±0.22 to 1.94±0.29 m/s in the transverse plane [26]. In the study of Alfuraih et al, the SWV values of the rectus femoris ranged from 2.19 to 2.64 m/s in transverse view [27]. The reference values of elasticity were different although all studies were conducted in a relaxed position.…”

Reduction in stiffness of proximal leg muscles during the first 6 months of glucocorticoid therapy for giant cell arteritis: A pilot study using shear wave elastography

“…The machine then sends tracking waves to detect the velocity of the shear waves in meters/second (m/s), which can be used as a surrogate for tissue stiffness . The muscle SWE acquisition technique was adapted from our previous work . The probe was oriented along the muscle fibers and placed with minimal load on skin to avoid causing tissue deformation.…”

“…The operated SWE system was the 2-dimensional Aixplorer (Supersonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) system using the SuperLinear™ SL10-−2 MHz probe, which has demonstrated a substantial reliability in muscle SWE in our previous work. 21 The principle of SWE is available elsewhere. 12 Briefly, the ultrasound machine sends a strong acoustic pulse that deforms the tissue and induces the propagation of relatively slow-traveling shear waves.…”

“…12 The muscle SWE acquisition technique was adapted from our previous work. [21][22][23] The probe was oriented along the muscle fibers and placed with minimal load on skin to avoid causing tissue deformation. and semimembranosus [SM]) and the biceps brachii (BB).…”