Measurement of the stiffness of the normal terminal ileum mesentery using shear-wave elastography

To investigate the feasibility of using shear-wave elastography (SWE) to measure the stiffness of the normal terminal ileum mesentery, and to establish its normal reference range.

Ninety-five normal subjects and 22 patients with mesentery-related disease were included. The average Young's modulus of the normal terminal ileal mesentery was measured by SWE ultrasound. The thickness and the extent to which mesenteric fat extended around the intestinal circumference of the normal terminal ileum were also recorded. The normal reference range was established and the SWE values of normal and diseased subjects were compared.

Transabdominal SWE examination of the terminal ileum mesentery was successfully performed on 91 subjects (95.8 %). The mean extent range, thickness, and SWE value of the normal terminal ileum mesentery were 1/4 (1/5-1/3), 6.8 ± 2.4 mm, and 4.3 ± 2.1 kPa, respectively. These parameters did not differ significantly between genders, and across age and body mass index groups (all P > 0.05). The intra- and inter-operator consistencies were excellent for the replicated SWE measurements (0.801 [95 % confidence interval: 0.560-0.916] and 0.751 (95 % confidence interval: 0.388-0.900], respectively). The mean mesenteric elasticity in diseased subjects was 21.9 ± 10.7 kPa, which was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (P < 0.001). The cut-off value for mesenteric elasticity was 9.3 kPa, with a sensitivity of 90 % and a specificity of 100 % (P < 0.001).

SWE can be used to reliably evaluate the stiffness of the terminal ileum mesentery in normal subjects.