Shear wave elastography in varicocele patients: Prospective study to investigate correlation with semen parameters and histological findings

Abstract Background To explore the value of liver stiffness assessed by two-dimensional real-time shear wave elastography (2D-SWE）in predicting the occurrence of hypersplenism in patients diagnosed with Wilson’s disease (WD). Methods A total of 90 WD patients were enrolled in this prospective study between May 2018 and December 2018. Clinical data and ultrasound imaging including 2D-SWE liver stiffness of WD patients as baseline data were collected. Patients were followed up for 24 months, or patients developed hypersplenism after enrollment. Risk factors for hypersplenism were determined using cox regression and receiver operating characteristic curve. Results Twenty-night (32.2%) patients were found developed hypersplenism. The age, the diameter of portal vein, and the liver stiffness were independent risk factors associated with hypersplenism in WD. The cutoff value of liver stiffness for predicting hypersplenism was 10.45 kPa, with sensitivity and specificity of 75.9% and 73.8%, respectively. When patients were divided into two groups according to liver stiffness ≥10.45 kPa or <10.45 kPa, the incidence of hypersplenism were 57.9% vs. 13.5% (P<0.001), and the median time between the enrollment and the development of hypersplenism was 15 months vs. 22 months (P<0.001) for the two groups, respectively. Conclusion The liver stiffness measured by 2D-SWE was a reliable predictor of hypersplenism in WD patients. Dynamic monitoring WD patients using 2D-SWE is crucial for the early diagnosis of hypersplenism.

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Analysis of shear wave elastography and serum autotaxin as novel non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis in patients with autoimmune hepatitis – a prospective study

Journal of Hepatology ◽

10.1016/s0168-8278(17)31500-3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. S546

Author(s):

M.K. Janik ◽

B. Kruk ◽

K. Kostrzewa ◽

J. Raszeja-Wyszomirska ◽

K. Wolf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Autoimmune Hepatitis ◽

Shear Wave ◽

Hepatitis A ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Non Invasive ◽

A Prospective Study

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Testicular shear wave elastography in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermic individuals: a prospective case–control study

International Urology and Nephrology ◽

10.1007/s11255-021-02909-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ester Illiano ◽

Francesco Trama ◽

Antonio Ruffo ◽

Giuseppe Romeo ◽

Filippo Riccardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Shear Wave ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Case Control ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Control Group ◽

Group A ◽

Group B ◽

Control Study ◽

Prospective Case Control Study

Abstract Purpose The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the testicular stiffness by ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) both in men with oligo-astheno-teratozospermia (OAT) and in control group. The secondary objective was to identify a possible correlation between semen quality with testicular stiffness. Methods This was a prospective case-control study. We divided the sample in two groups; Group A (case group) included men with OAT, and Group B (control group) men with normal sperm parameters. All participants had at last two semen analysis in the past 180 days (at last 90 days apart), using performed ultrasound and SWE elastography. Results We analyzed 100 participants, 50 patients in Group A and 50 controls in Group B. There were statistically significant differences in term of testicular volume and testicular stiffness between two groups. Men with OAT had the testicular stiffness value higher than the controls in both sides (left testicular stiffness 21.4 ± 5.4 kPa vs 9.9 ± 1.6 kPa, p < 0.0001; right testicular stiffness 22.9 ± 4.8 kPa vs 9.5 ± 2.4 kPa, p < 0.0001). Men with abnormal semen parameters showed an inverse correlation between the mean value of testicular stiffness and total sperm count (22.15 ± 3.38 kPa, r = − 0.387, p = 0.005), sperm concentration (22.15 ± 3.38 kPa, r = − 0.244, p = 0.04), and progressive motility (22.15 ± 3.38 kPa, r = − 0.336, p = 0.01), while the correlation was not evident in controls group. Conclusion SWE is able to differentiate between testicles with spermatogenic changes from a healthy testicle. For this reason, it could be used to evaluate, in a non-invasive way, the tissue alterations of the organ.

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