Elastography

Elastography

Elastography is an advanced imaging technique that assesses tissue stiffness or elasticity, providing valuable diagnostic information in various medical fields. Here, we explore its applications in liver, breast, and thyroid examinations.

Liver Elastography

Liver elastography measures the stiffness of liver tissue, aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of liver diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. This non-invasive method helps differentiate between healthy liver tissue and areas affected by liver fibrosis, guiding treatment decisions and reducing the need for invasive liver biopsies. Techniques include transient elastography (FibroScan) and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography, which provide quantitative measurements of liver stiffness with high accuracy.

Breast Elastography

In breast imaging, elastography complements traditional mammography and ultrasound by evaluating tissue stiffness. It assists in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions based on their elasticity characteristics. This can reduce unnecessary biopsies and enhance early detection of breast cancer. Shear wave elastography (SWE) and strain elastography are commonly used techniques, offering real-time imaging and quantitative measurements of tissue elasticity.

Thyroid Elastography

Thyroid elastography assesses thyroid gland stiffness, aiding in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules and guiding treatment decisions. It helps differentiate between benign nodules and suspicious lesions, reducing the need for unnecessary thyroid surgeries. Elastography techniques such as strain elastography and shear wave elastography provide clinicians with valuable insights into thyroid tissue elasticity, improving diagnostic accuracy and patient management.

Elastography is a valuable tool in modern medical imaging, offering non-invasive assessment of tissue stiffness in the liver, breast, and thyroid. By providing quantitative data on tissue elasticity, elastography enhances diagnostic capabilities, improves treatment planning, and reduces patient discomfort associated with invasive procedures.