JSUM ultrasound elastography practice guidelines: pancreas

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Techniques
• Biophysics

Background:

• Ultrasound elastography, a novel method for assessing tissue elasticity, has been available for 11 years.
• Numerous elastography devices are commercially available, often marketed under different brand names.
• Pancreatic elastography can be performed using transabdominal or endoscopic ultrasound, though some techniques are challenging for the pancreas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify diverse elastography techniques into two main categories based on physical quantities measured (strain or shear wave).
• To present current evidence and applications of pancreatic elastography.
• To provide guidance on the contemporary use of pancreatic elastography.

Main Methods:

• Classification of elastography techniques based on measured physical quantities (strain vs. shear wave).
• Review of existing scientific literature on ultrasound elastography for pancreatic applications.
• Assessment of the current clinical utility and evidence base for pancreatic elastography.

Main Results:

• Elastography techniques are broadly categorized into strain-based and shear wave-based methods.
• Evidence for the efficacy of pancreatic elastography is still limited, with a small number of published reports.
• Certain elastography devices lack specific research or reports concerning their application to the pancreas.

Conclusions:

• The guidelines provide a classification framework for elastography methods.
• Current evidence for pancreatic elastography is insufficient to recommend specific imaging or analysis protocols for all devices.
• Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols and validate various elastography devices for pancreatic assessment.