Endoscopic
ultrasound elastography - a new imaging technique for the visualization
of tissue elasticity distribution
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Adrian
Sãftoiu1,2, Peter Vilman1
1) Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Gentofte University
Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark.
2) Department of Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and
Pharmacy Craiova, Romania
Abstract
Endoscopic
ultrasound (EUS) elastography is an imaging procedure used for
the visualization of tissue elasticity during usual EUS examinations.
EUS elastography can be accomplished real-time with state-of-the-art
ultrasound systems, with the images being represented in transparent
color superimposed on the conventional gray-scale B-mode scans.
The aim of this review was to introduce the potential range
of applications of EUS elastography. EUS elastography might
be useful for the differentiation of benign and malignant lymph
nodes, with a qualitative pattern analysis and a quantitative
histogram analysis of the color images being used to adequately
classify the lesions. Mapping of the tissue elasticity distribution
might be useful for the differential diagnosis of focal pancreatic
masses, especially in the setting of chronic pancreatitis where
the accuracy of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration is also low.
EUS elastography might also enhance the detection and differentiation
of various solid tumors (adrenal tumors, submucosal tumors,
etc.) situated nearby the gastrointestinal tract. Routine use
of EUS elastography thus offers supplemental information that
enhances conventional EUS imaging, with a possible decrease
in the number of un-necessary EUS-FNA procedures used for tissue
confir-mation. However, future enhancements of the EUS elastography
technology, as well as prospective, randomized studies will
probably establish the clinical impact of dynamic elasticity
imaging.
Key
words
Elastography
- endoscopic ultrasound - lymph nodes - pancreatic diseases
