Vascular Elastography: A Validation Study

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 40; no. 8; pp. 1882 - 1895
• Main Authors: Lopata, Richard G.P, Peters, Mathijs F.J, Nijs, Jan, Oomens, Cees W.J, Rutten, Marcel C.M, van de Vosse, Frans N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Aorta; Aorta - diagnostic imaging; Bi-axial tensile test; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - standards; Elastography; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Mechanical characterization; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Swine; Ultrasound; Aorta; Mechanical characterization; Ultrasound; Elastography; Bi-axial tensile test
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2014.02.029

Abstract Vascular elastography techniques are promising tools for mechanical characterization of diseased arteries. These techniques are usually validated with simulations or phantoms or by comparing results with histology or other imaging modalities. In the study described here, vascular elastography was applied to porcine aortas in vitro during inflation testing (n = 10) and results were compared with those of standard bi-axial tensile testing, a technique that directly measures the force applied to the tissue. A neo-Hookean model was fit to the stress-strain data, valid for large deformations. Results indicated good correspondence between the two techniques, with GUS  = 110 ± 11 kPa and GTT  = 108 ± 10 kPa for ultrasound and tensile testing, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis revealed little bias (GUS −GTT  = 2 ± 20 kPa). The next step will be the application of a non-linear material model that is also adaptable for in vivo measurements.