Real‐time elastography for assessment of uterine disorders

Abstract

Objectives Sonoelastography is an ultrasound-imaging

Elastography Improves the Diagnostic Accuracy of Sonography in Differentiating Endometrial Polyps and Submucosal Fibroids

“…In a recent study, it was shown that elastography was able to identify clear discriminating characteristics of the uterus, fibroids, and adenomyosis, and elastographically based diagnoses were in excellent agreement with those of magnetic resonance imaging. 17 In another study, the authors concluded that elastography allows for the assessment of the presence of a uterine fibroid or adenomyosis and helps differentiate between both focal findings. 23 Interestingly, it was also shown that the stiffness of normal uterine tissue increased with age.…”

“…Possible uses of elastography in obstetrics and gynecology include differential diagnosis of endometrial disorders, 8 prediction of preterm delivery, 9 – 12 and successful labor induction 13 – 16 . In a recently published study, it was shown that elastographically based diagnoses were in excellent agreement with those of magnetic resonance imaging for fibroids and adenomyosis 17 . Considering the fact that endometrial polyps derive from soft endometrial tissue, and submucosal fibroids are made of hard muscle and fibrous tissue, elastography seems a perfect tool for differentiating such intrauterine masses.…”

“…[13][14][15][16] In a recently published study, it was shown that elastographically based diagnoses were in excellent agreement with those of magnetic resonance imaging for fibroids and adenomyosis. 17 Considering the fact that endometrial polyps derive from soft endometrial tissue, and submucosal fibroids are made of hard muscle and fibrous tissue, elastography seems a perfect tool for differentiating such intrauterine masses. Interestingly, it has been shown that in vitro uterine ultrasound strain imaging may be useful in distinguishing endometrial polyps and fibroids.…”

Elastography: history, principles, and technique comparison

“…Intraabdominal lymph nodes have primarily been studied using endoscopic ultrasound with promising results [37]. Finally the uterus and adnexa have been studied looking for changes in uterine stiffness during pregnancy and for evaluation of fibroids, adenomyosis [38] and ovarian tumors [39]. Table 1 shows a rough comparison of strain elastography with shear wave elastography for abdominal applications.…”

Feasibility and reproducibility of ShearWaveTM elastography of fetal baboon organs

“…It has already been demonstrated that elastography is useful in characterizing, on the one hand, various tumors such as breast, thyroid and prostate cancers; and on the other hand, lymph nodes and focal or diffuse liver diseases . This imaging technique has recently been released to the field of gynecology and obstetrics . In obstetrics, elastography was mainly used in the assessment of the cervix.…”