Tran Anthony, Gao Jing
Rocky Vista University, Ivins, UT, USA.
J Cent Nerv Syst Dis. 2021 Mar 3;13:1179573521996141. doi: 10.1177/1179573521996141. eCollection 2021.
Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques such as pixel intensity, ultrasound strain, and shear wave elastography have made it possible to identify the echogenicity (brightness) and mechanical properties (stiffness) of normal and pathological tissues. These techniques can be utilized as an alternative diagnosis tool to assess post stroke spasticity. Current clinical assessment methods include the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS), which can result in inconsistencies due to their subjective nature. QUS provides robust approaches to assessing muscle stiffness associated with post stroke spasticity. Computer-aided pixel count quantifies tissue echogenicity in grayscale image. A strain ratio in ultrasound strain imaging compares the stiffness and movement (lengthening or shortening) of a spastic muscle with nonspecific muscle. In addition, shear wave elastography provides the shear wave velocity of an affected muscle that directly associated with the muscle stiffness before and after treatment for spasticity. This article reviews the theory behind these aforementioned concepts and discuss the relations between QUS and skeletal muscles in post stroke spasticity.
定量超声（QUS）技术，如像素强度、超声应变和剪切波弹性成像，已使识别正常和病理组织的回声性（亮度）和力学特性（硬度）成为可能。这些技术可作为评估中风后痉挛的替代诊断工具。当前的临床评估方法包括改良Ashworth量表（MAS）和改良Tardieu量表（MTS），由于其主观性，可能会导致结果不一致。QUS提供了评估与中风后痉挛相关的肌肉硬度的可靠方法。计算机辅助像素计数可量化灰度图像中的组织回声性。超声应变成像中的应变比可比较痉挛肌肉与非特异性肌肉的硬度和运动（伸长或缩短）。此外，剪切波弹性成像可提供受影响肌肉的剪切波速度，该速度与痉挛治疗前后的肌肉硬度直接相关。本文回顾了上述概念背后的理论，并讨论了QUS与中风后痉挛中骨骼肌之间的关系。
