Performance of novel tissue harmonic echo imaging using endoscopic ultrasound for pancreatic diseases

• Published in: Endoscopy International Open Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. E42 - E50
• Main Authors: Matsumoto, Kazuyuki, Katanuma, Akio, Maguchi, Hiroyuki, Takahashi, Kuniyuki, Osanai, Manabu, Yane, Kei, Kin, Toshifumi, Takaki, Ryo, Matsumori, Tomoaki, Gon, Katsushige, Tomonari, Akiko, Nojima, Masanori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stuttgart · New York Georg Thieme Verlag KG 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Original article
• ISSN: 2364-3722; 2196-9736
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1393367

Background and study aims: Recently, tissue harmonic echo (THE) imaging has advanced with the development of a new endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) monitor/processing unit. With this new technology, penetration (THE-P) and resolution (THE-R) images can be obtained. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of this novel THE imaging using a new processing unit for pancreatic diseases. Patients and methods: Fifty patients with pancreatic lesions (38 cystic, 12 solid) were retrospectively analyzed. At each examination, 3 EUS images of the same pancreatic lesion were obtained using B-mode, THE-P mode, and THE-R mode imaging. Each set of EUS images was randomly arranged and evaluated independently by 4 physicians blinded to the imaging technique. Images were compared using a Likert scale 5-point grading system for each parameter. Results: For cystic lesions, THE-P mode images were significantly superior to conventional B-mode images for visualizing the boundary, septum, nodules, and total image quality ( P  < 0.05). THE-R mode images were significantly superior to conventional B-mode images for visualizing the boundary, septum, and total image quality ( P  < 0.05). However, for solid lesions, there was no significant difference in all the evaluation points between THE-P and conventional B-mode images. THE-R mode images were inferior to conventional B-mode images for visualizing the boundary, internal structure, and total image quality ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions: For pancreatic cystic lesions, THE mode images provided better lesion characterization than conventional B-mode images. Further research is required to determine if this improvement will result in improved EUS diagnostics.