Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography in Patients with Testicular Microlithiasis

Testes parenchyma stiffness assessment was performed in patients with limited (less than five microliths) and classic microlithiasis (with five or more microliths on any single view). The study was performed on Aixplorer scanner (SuperSonic Imagine, France) with wideband linear probe (4-15 MHz). Young’s modulus values were assessed with microliths in the ROI and in normal parenchyma. Comparison with the control group was done. Microliths size varied from 0.7 to 2.9 mm (n = 60). Despite of the testis heterogeneity on gray scale ultrasound homogenous staining in the color window was seen during the shear wave elastography with the recommended range of the Young’s modulus (50 kPa). There were significant differences between the Young’s modulus values (Emean and Emax) assessed in microliths area and normal parenchyma. Comparison with the control group showed significant differences for microliths area only. There was not any significant difference of Young’s modulus within the normal parenchyma comparing to the control group. Size of microliths did not correlate with elastography parameters. It is recommended to assess stiffness of testes parenchyma avoiding hyperechoic areas. Multiple hyperechoic structures can affect on quantitative stiffness characteristics.

мультипараметрическая ультразвуковая диагностика, ультразвуковая эластография, эластография сдвиговой волной, жесткость, модуль Юнга, скорость сдвиговой волны, микролитиаз яичек, multiparametric ultrasound, ultrasound elastography, shear wave elastography, stiffness, Young’s modulus, shear wave velocity, testicular microlithiasis

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