Application and Research Progress of Real-Time Shear Wave Elastography in Quantitative Assessment of Musculoskeletal System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62051/ijphmr.v3n3.03Keywords:
Ultrasound examination, Elastic imaging technology, Shear wave elastic imaging, Quantify, Musculoskeletal ultrasound, Skeletal muscleAbstract
Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a new ultrasonic elastography technique that can quantitatively obtain the elastic modulus of biological tissue without additional operator pressure. Because SWE technology has the advantages of quantitative measurement, good repeatability and real-time dynamic observation, it has been widely used in the evaluation of liver, thyroid, breast, gynecology, musculoskeletal system, urinary system and other diseases. Especially in recent years, SWE has been more widely used in the musculoskeletal system. This article introduces the progress in the research and application of elastography in the musculoskeletal system and reviews the progress in the clinical research and application of SWE in the evaluation of muscles and tendons, peripheral nerves, joints and ligaments, soft tissues and muscle masses.
References
[1] Song X, Liu C, Chen S. Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Different Delivery Modes on Cervical Elasticity Based on Real-time Shear Wave Imaging Technology and Artificial Intelligence. Curr Med Imaging. Published online January 2, 2024. doi:10.2174/0115734056263380231107093752
[2] Cheng KL, Choi YJ, Shim WH, Lee JH, Baek JH. Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification Shear Wave Elastography: Prospective Assessment of Cervical Lymph Nodes. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016; 42(2):378-386. doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.10.003
[3] Hu Jiandi, Sun Fang, Liu Feifei et al. Evaluation of skeletal muscle elasticity by real-time shear wave elastography in patients with sarcopenia [J]. Journal of Clinical Ultrasound Medicine. 2020(10).
[4] Weinreb JH, Sheth C, Apostolakos J, McCarthy MB, Barden B, Cote MP, Mazzocca AD. Tendon structure, disease, and imaging. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014 May 8; 4(1):66-73.
[5] Aubry S, Nueffer JP, Tanter M, Becce F, Vidal C, Michel F. Viscoelasticity in Achilles tendonopathy: quantitative assessment by using real-time shear-wave elastography. Radiology. 2015 Mar; 274(3): 821-9. doi: 10.1148/radiol.14140434. Epub 2014 Oct 17.
[6] Fu S, Cui L, He X, Sun Y. Elastic Characteristics of the Normal Achilles Tendon Assessed by Virtual Touch Imaging Quantification Shear Wave Elastography. J Ultrasound Med. 2016 Sep; 35(9): 1881-7. doi: 10.7863/ultra.16.01052. Epub 2016 Jul 1.
[7] Martin JA, Biedrzycki AH, Lee KS, DeWall RJ, Brounts SH, Murphy WL, Markel MD, Thelen DG. In Vivo Measures of Shear Wave Speed as a Predictor of Tendon Elasticity and Strength. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015 Oct; 41(10): 2722-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.06.008. Epub 2015 Jul 26.
[8] Akagi R, Kusama S. Comparison Between Neck and Shoulder Stiffness Determined by Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography and a Muscle Hardness Meter. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015; 41(8): 2266-2271. doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.04.001
[9] Chiu TC, Ngo HC, Lau LW, Leung KW, Lo MH, Yu HF, Ying M. An Investigation of the Immediate Effect of Static Stretching on the Morphology and Stiffness of Achilles Tendon in Dominant and Non-Dominant Legs. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 27; 11(4): e0154443. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154443.
[10] Siu WL, Chan CH, Lam CH, Lee CM, Ying M. Sonographic evaluation of the effect of long-term exercise on Achilles tendon stiffness using shear wave elastography. J Sci Med Sport. 2016 Nov; 19(11):883-887. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.02.013. Epub 2016 Mar 11.
[11] Chen XM, Cui LG, He P, Shen WW, Qian YJ, Wang JR. Shear wave elastographic characterization of normal and torn achilles tendons: a pilot study. J Ultrasound Med. 2013 Mar; 32(3):449-55. doi: 10.7863/jum.2013.32.3.449.
[12] Shinohara M, Sabra K, Gennisson JL, Fink M, Tanter M. Real-time visualization of muscle stiffness distribution with ultrasound shear wave imaging during muscle contraction. Muscle Nerve. 2010 Sep; 42(3):438-41. doi: 10.1002/mus.21723.
[13] Koo TK, Guo JY, Cohen JH, Parker KJ. Quantifying the passive stretching response of human tibialis anterior muscle using shear wave elastography. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2014 Jan; 29(1):33-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2013.11.009. Epub 2013 Nov 19.
[14] Zhang Z, He S, Wang H, Zhong Y, Zou H, Gao X. Immersion ultrasonography improves the repeatability of cephalic vein diameter measurements for inexperienced operators. Ren Fail. 2022 Dec; 44(1):1634-1639. doi: 10.1080/0886022X.2022.2131573.
[15] Zhang Z, Wang H, Ding X, He S. Immersion ultrasound improves the repeatability of shear-wave elastography for measuring median nerve elasticity. J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 Aug 23; 18(1):618. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-04097-6.
[16] Zhang Z, He S, Zhong Y, Zou H, Cai L, Zhang Y, Wang H. The effect of gel pads on the measurement of breast superficial lesions by shear wave elastography. Ann Med. 2023; 55(2):2269941. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2269941. Epub 2023 Oct 23.
[17] Rosskopf AB, Ehrmann C, Buck FM, Gerber C, Flück M, Pfirrmann CW. Quantitative Shear-Wave US Elastography of the Supraspinatus Muscle: Reliability of the Method and Relation to Tendon Integrity and Muscle Quality. Radiology. 2016 Feb; 278(2):465-74. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2015150908. Epub 2015 Nov 5.
[18] Nakamura M, Hasegawa S, Umegaki H, Nishishita S, Kobayashi T, Fujita K, Tanaka H, Ibuki S, Ichihashi N. The difference in passive tension applied to the muscles composing the hamstrings - Comparison among muscles using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Man Ther. 2016 Aug; 24:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2016.03.012. Epub 2016 Apr 1.
[19] Hatta T, Giambini H, Sukegawa K, Yamanaka Y, Sperling JW, Steinmann SP, Itoi E, An KN. Quantified Mechanical Properties of the Deltoid Muscle Using the Shear Wave Elastography: Potential Implications for Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. PLoS One. 2016 May 6; 11(5): e0155102. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155102.
[20] MacDonald D, Wan A, McPhee M, Tucker K, Hug F. Reliability of Abdominal Muscle Stiffness Measured Using Elastography during Trunk Rehabilitation Exercises. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016 Apr; 42(4): 1018-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.12.002. Epub 2015 Dec 30.
[21] Yoshitake Y, Miyamoto N, Taniguchi K, Katayose M, Kanehisa H. The Skin Acts to Maintain Muscle Shear Modulus. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2016 Mar; 42(3): 674-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.11.022. Epub 2015 Dec 29.
[22] Ewertsen C, Carlsen JF, Christiansen IR, Jensen JA, Nielsen MB. Evaluation of healthy muscle tissue by strain and shear wave elastography - Dependency on depth and ROI position in relation to underlying bone. Ultrasonics. 2016 Sep; 71: 127-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.06.007. Epub 2016 Jun 11.
[23] Ateş F, Marquetand J, Zimmer M. Detecting age-related changes in skeletal muscle mechanics using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 16; 13(1): 20062. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-47468-z.
[24] Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al; Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Aging. 2019 Jul 1; 48(4): 601. doi: 10.1093/aging/afz046. Erratum for: Age Aging. 2019 Jan 1; 48(1):16-31.
[25] Narici M, McPhee J, Conte M, Franchi MV, Mitchell K, Tagliaferri S, Monti E, Marcolin G, Atherton PJ, Smith K, Phillips B, Lund J, Franceschi C, Maggio M, Butler-Browne GS. Age-related alterations in muscle architecture are a signature of sarcopenia: the ultrasound sarcopenia index. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2021 Aug; 12(4):973-982. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12720. Epub 2021 Jun 1.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Public Health and Medical Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.







