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Ultrasound Elastography in Children
Mirjam Močnik1, Nataša Marčun Varda1,2
1Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia.
Insights
Ultrasound elastography, a key pediatric diagnostic tool, assesses tissue elasticity across various organs. While established for liver fibrosis, its broader clinical applications in children require further protocol development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Imaging
- Medical Diagnostics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Ultrasound elastography is an advanced ultrasound technique for measuring tissue elasticity.
- Research in pediatric applications has significantly increased over the last decade.
- The technique involves observing tissue response to an external stimulus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current applications and future potential of ultrasound elastography in pediatrics.
- To highlight its evolution from research to clinical practice, particularly in liver fibrosis.
- To discuss the adaptability of elastography for assessing various pediatric organs.
Main Methods:
- This review synthesizes existing research on ultrasound elastography in children.
- It examines the technique's application across different organs, including the brain, spleen, kidney, and skin.
- Considerations such as the elastography method, patient age, BMI, and technical factors are discussed.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound elastography has shown significant evolution in evaluating pediatric liver fibrosis.
- The technique is applicable to a wide range of pediatric organs beyond the liver.
- Factors like age, BMI, and specific technical parameters are crucial for accurate assessments.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound elastography holds vast potential as a diagnostic tool in the pediatric population.
- Ultrasound is a dominant imaging modality in pediatrics, making elastography a natural extension.
- Standardized indications and exam protocols for widespread clinical use in various pediatric fields are still needed.
Abstract:
Ultrasound elastography is a novel ultrasound technique, being extensively researched in children in the last decade. It measures tissue elasticity with the observation of tissue response after an external stimulus. From research to clinical practice, ultrasound elastography has evolved significantly in liver fibrosis evaluation in children; however, several other applications of the technique are available in both clinical practice and research environments. Practically, in children any organ can be assessed, including the brain in early ages, along with muscle and connective tissue elasticity evaluation, spleen, kidney, skin, lymphatic tissue, etc. The elastography method, age, body mass index and technical points should be considered when performing ultrasound elastography. This review highlights its vast potential as a diagnostic tool in the pediatric population, where ultrasound is a dominant imaging tool; however, the indications and exam protocol for its clinical use in several fields in pediatrics have yet to be elucidated.
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