Current state of elastography research in multiple anatomical structures and respective phantoms

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Diagnostic Technologies

Background:

• Ultrasound elastography (USE) is a non-invasive technique for assessing tissue elasticity, enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
• The rapid development of USE necessitates calibrated phantoms for system validation.
• Research spans diverse anatomical structures including liver, breast, prostate, and brain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of elastography research across multiple anatomical sites.
• To identify common phantom materials and their applications in elastography validation.
• To highlight areas for future development in phantom technology.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (January 2019 - May 2024).
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies utilizing phantoms for elastography system validation.
• Exclusion of studies not employing phantoms.

Main Results:

• Phantoms are extensively used to validate novel elastography approaches and assess existing system performance.
• Common phantom materials include gelatin, agar, and poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel (PVA-C), alongside commercial options.
• A variety of phantoms are employed across different anatomical research areas.

Conclusions:

• Significant advancements in elastography techniques are evident.
• There is a substantial opportunity for growth in developing specialized phantoms that better replicate in vivo tissue properties.
• Improved phantom design is key to further enhancing the accuracy and reliability of ultrasound elastography.