Shear wave elastography parameters of normal soft tissues of the neck
Language English Country Czech Republic Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
PubMed
28546639
DOI
10.5507/bp.2017.024
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- elastography, head, lymph node, masseter, neck, parotid, shear wave, sternocleidomastoid, thyroid, ultrasound,
- MeSH
- Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
- Elasticity Imaging Techniques methods MeSH
- Body Mass Index MeSH
- Neck Muscles diagnostic imaging physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Parotid Gland diagnostic imaging physiology MeSH
- Predictive Value of Tests MeSH
- Elasticity physiology MeSH
- Reference Values MeSH
- Reproducibility of Results MeSH
- Aging physiology MeSH
- Thyroid Gland diagnostic imaging physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Shear wave elastography is a relatively new method of quantitative measurement of tissue elasticity. Assuming that malignant lesions are stiffer than benign ones, elastography may provide supplementary information for their discrimination. However, potential confounding factors impacting tissue stiffness should be investigated first. AIMS: The objective of this study was to measure the stiffness of selected tissues of the head and neck in a normal population and to evaluate its relationship to age, sex, and body mass index. METHODS: Stiffness of the thyroid, submandibular and parotid glands, masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles, and cervical lymph nodes was measured bilaterally in 128 healthy volunteers (83 female and 45 male). At least 20 subjects in each decade of life (20-29, 30-39‥, 70+) were enrolled. Shear wave elastography was performed by a single radiologist in all the subjects. The stiffnesses obtained were correlated with age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS: The mean stiffness was 9.5 ± 3.6 kPa for the thyroid, 9.5 ± 4.6 kPa for the lymph node, 11.0 ± 3.4 kPa for the submandibular gland, 9.0 ± 3.5 kPa for the parotid gland, 9.9 ± 4.1 kPa for the sternocleidomastoid, and 10.0 ± 4.3 kPa for the masseter muscle. A slight general decrease in stiffness with increasing age was found. BMI and weight had a small impact on the minimum and maximum stiffness values. The sex of the subject did not affect elasticity. CONCLUSION: The mean stiffness of healthy head and neck organs has a relatively narrow distribution around 11 kPa. The changes of stiffness with age, BMI, and weight that were identified are too small to have clinical impact.
References provided by Crossref.org
The Role of Ultrasound and Shear-Wave Elastography in Evaluation of Cervical Lymph Nodes
Differential Diagnosis of Parotid Gland Tumors: Role of Shear Wave Elastography
