Diagnostic utility of shear wave elastography in musculoskeletal injuries: A narrative review
Corresponding Author
Kuntal Chowdhary MD
Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
Correspondence
Kuntal Chowdhary, Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 180 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGeorge Raum DO
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Search for more papers by this authorChristopher Visco MD
Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Kuntal Chowdhary MD
Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
Correspondence
Kuntal Chowdhary, Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 180 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGeorge Raum DO
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Search for more papers by this authorChristopher Visco MD
Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKuntal Chowdhary and George Raum contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an emerging and promising ultrasound modality, and is more recently employed in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal (MSK) pathologies. SWE evaluates tissue stiffness by measuring the speed of propagating acoustic waves through body tissue structures. Knowing the variations in stiffness of MSK soft tissue can provide helpful diagnostic insight for the evaluation of pathology in muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and other soft tissues. The goal of this review is to synthesize recent literature on the utility of SWE for MSK pathology diagnosis. This review reveals that SWE adds important diagnostic data for the evaluation of several pathologies, such as median mononeuropathy at the wrist, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis. The review also reveals a lack of evidence pertaining to appropriate standardization of use and the connection to reliable and valid diagnostic benefit in the clinical setting.
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