[The clinical utility of elastography, a new ultrasound technique]

Sonoelastography combines elastography and B mode ultrasonography to show parameters related to the structural organization of tissues in real time. Thus, this noninvasive technique shows us the mechanical characteristics of each tissue. The different elastography techniques (qualitative and quantitative, in ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging) are based on the hypothesis that soft tissues are more deformable than stiff tissues and that these differences can be captured in images. Elastography adds a new perspective to conventional ultrasonography: it reflects the stiffness of the tissues, and this information, together with the anatomic information from B mode imaging and the vascular information from Doppler, is key for the diagnosis. This article aims to provide a brief summary of what elastography is, the different types of elastography, and the range of possible applications of this technique.