The usefulness of shear wave elastography for respiratory diseases (rapid report)

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluation of the usefulness of shear wave elastography for respiratory diseases. Subjects: Thirteen patients including six primary lung cancers, two metastatic lung cancers, four pneumonias, and one atelectasis. Methods: The shear velocity of lung lesions depicted from the body surface by B-mode ultrasonography was measured by shear wave elastography. Results and Discussion: The shear velocity of lung tumors was 3.26∼7.25 m/s (average: 4.86±1.29 m/s). The shear velocity of pneumonia and atelectasis was 1.08∼2.29 m/s (average: 1.57±0.45 m/s). The shear velocity of lung tumors was apparently faster than that of pneumonia and atelectasis, and a significant difference was recognized. Conclusion: These findings suggest that shear wave elastography may be useful for the qualitative diagnosis of subpleural lung lesions from the body surface.