Sigrist Rosa M S, Liau Joy, Kaffas Ahmed El, Chammas Maria Cristina, Willmann Juergen K
Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Department of Ultrasound, Institute of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas, Medical School of University of São Paulo.
Theranostics. 2017 Mar 7;7(5):1303-1329. doi: 10.7150/thno.18650. eCollection 2017.
Elastography-based imaging techniques have received substantial attention in recent years for non-invasive assessment of tissue mechanical properties. These techniques take advantage of changed soft tissue elasticity in various pathologies to yield qualitative and quantitative information that can be used for diagnostic purposes. Measurements are acquired in specialized imaging modes that can detect tissue stiffness in response to an applied mechanical force (compression or shear wave). Ultrasound-based methods are of particular interest due to its many inherent advantages, such as wide availability including at the bedside and relatively low cost. Several ultrasound elastography techniques using different excitation methods have been developed. In general, these can be classified into strain imaging methods that use internal or external compression stimuli, and shear wave imaging that use ultrasound-generated traveling shear wave stimuli. While ultrasound elastography has shown promising results for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis, new applications in breast, thyroid, prostate, kidney and lymph node imaging are emerging. Here, we review the basic principles, foundation physics, and limitations of ultrasound elastography and summarize its current clinical use and ongoing developments in various clinical applications.
近年来，基于弹性成像的技术在无创评估组织力学特性方面受到了广泛关注。这些技术利用各种病变中软组织弹性的变化，以产生可用于诊断目的的定性和定量信息。测量是在专门的成像模式下进行的，该模式可以检测组织在施加机械力（压缩或剪切波）时的硬度。基于超声的方法因其许多固有优点而特别受关注，例如广泛可用，包括在床边使用，且成本相对较低。已经开发了几种使用不同激发方法的超声弹性成像技术。一般来说，这些技术可分为使用内部或外部压缩刺激的应变成像方法，以及使用超声产生的传播剪切波刺激的剪切波成像方法。虽然超声弹性成像在肝纤维化的无创评估中已显示出有前景的结果，但在乳腺、甲状腺、前列腺、肾脏和淋巴结成像中的新应用也正在出现。在此，我们回顾超声弹性成像的基本原理、基础物理学和局限性，并总结其目前在各种临床应用中的临床用途和正在进行的发展。
