Ultrasound elastography in cancer imaging: Principles and current applications [élastographie par ultrasons en imagerie cancérologique]

摘要

Ultrasound elastography is a novel technique that enables an elasticitymappingof tissuestiffness. It consistsanultrasoundquantitative tissue palpation that allows to detect hard lesions and is often associated with cancer lesion detection. By means of dedicated image processing, the degree of tissue deformability is presented by an elasticity mapping, usually colour coded. Two main techniques are used: static elastography, where external compression is being applied by using the ultrasound probe, thus deforming the lesion, and shear wave imaging, where the system itself induces a tissue vibration by means of shear wave propagation. Elastography has been already evaluated in many studies as a complementary method for lesion detection and characterization (cancer being usually harder than benign lesions). Results published show that elastography can ameliorate specificity in case of superficial organ lesions, such as breast, thyroid, cervical lymph nodes, and prostate. It could diminish the number of unnecessary biopsies, and it could provide further guidance during interventional procedures, mainly in case of lesions of low contrast on conventional ultrasound.