Shear wave elastography and parathyroid adenoma: A new tool for diagnosing parathyroid adenomas

AbstractObjectivesThis study prospectively determines the shear wave elastography characteristics of parathyroid adenomas using virtual touch imaging quantification, a non-invasive ultrasound based shear wave elastography method.MethodsThis prospective study examined 57 consecutive patients with biochemically proven primary hyperparathyroidism and solitary parathyroid adenoma identified by ultrasound and confirmed by at least one of the following: surgical resection, positive Technetium–99m Sestamibi Scintigraphy (MIBI) scan, or fine needle aspiration biopsy with positive PTH washout (performed only in MIBI negative patients). Vascularity and shear wave elastography were performed for all patients. Parathyroid adenoma stiffness was measured as shear wave velocity in meters per second.ResultsThe median (range) pre-surgical value for PTH and calcium were 58pg/mL (19, 427) and 10.8mg/dL (9.5, 12.1), respectively. 37 patients had positive MIBI scan. 20 patients had negative MIBI scan but diagnosis was confirmed with positive PTH washout. 42 patients underwent parathyroidectomy, and an adenoma was confirmed in all. The median (range) shear wave velocity for all parathyroid adenomas enrolled in this study was 2.02m/s (1.53, 2.50). The median (range) shear wave velocity for thyroid tissue was 2.77m/s (1.89, 3.70). The shear wave velocity of the adenomas was independent of adenoma size, serum parathyroid hormone concentration, or plasma parathyroid hormone concentration.ConclusionsTissue elasticity of parathyroid adenoma is significantly lower than thyroid tissue. B-mode features and distinct vascularity pattern are helpful tools in diagnosing parathyroid adenoma with ultrasound. Shear wave elastography may provide valuable information in diagnosing parathyroid adenoma

Shear Wave Elastography and Cervical Lymph Nodes: Predicting Malignancy

AbstractThis prospective study evaluates the accuracy of virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ), a non-invasive shear wave elastography method for measuring cervical lymph nodes (LN) stiffness in differentiating benign from malignant LN. The study evaluated 270 LN in 236 patients with both conventional B-mode ultrasound and VTIQ shear wave elastography before fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). LN stiffness was measured as shear wave velocity (SWV) in m/s. Surgical resection was advised for FNAB results that were not clearly benign. Surgical pathology confirmed 54 malignant LN. The receiver operating curve (ROC) identified a single cut-off value of 2.93 m/s as the maximum SWV for predicting a malignant cervical LN. The sensitivity and specificity were 92.59% and 75.46%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 48.54% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 97.60%. LN stiffness measured by VTIQ–generated shear wave elastography is an independent predictor of malignancy