Shear Wave Elastography
Ultrasound-based tissue stiffness mapping.
What is Shear?
Ultrasound-based tissue stiffness mapping using acoustic radiation force impulse technology.
How it works: Focused ultrasound pulses generate shear waves; their propagation speed is measured to calculate tissue stiffness (Young's modulus).
Common Uses of Shear
Liver fibrosis assessment
Non-invasive staging of liver fibrosis without biopsy.
Breast lesion characterization
Differentiate benign from malignant breast masses.
Thyroid nodule evaluation
Assess malignancy risk in thyroid nodules.
Advantages
- ✓No ionizing radiation
- ✓Real-time imaging capability
- ✓Reproducible quantitative measurements
- ✓Non-invasive and painless
- ✓Widely available ultrasound systems
Limitations
- ⚠Operator dependency
- ⚠Limited depth penetration
- ⚠Artifacts from motion
- ⚠Requires specialized training
- ⚠Limited in bone imaging
Preparation Checklist
0 of 3 completed
⚖️Shear vs CT
Related Imaging Modalities
MRI provides excellent soft tissue detail without radiation; CT offers cross-sectional imaging; conventional ultrasound is widely available; FibroScan is specialized for liver elastography.
CT
CT scans use X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body. They are particularly useful for detecting bone fractures, tumors, and internal bleeding.
MRI
MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of organs and soft tissues. Excellent for brain, spine, and joint imaging.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to create real-time images. Commonly used for pregnancy monitoring and examining organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Browse Shear Terms
Explore common terms in Shear reports, each with detailed explanations, clinical significance, and related lab tests to help you understand your imaging results. lab tests.
Breast Lesion on Shear Wave Elastography: What It Shows, Cos
Tissue stiffness values displayed in kilopascals (kPa) with color-coded mapping and strain ratios
Liver Stiffness on Shear Wave Elastography: What It Shows, C
Tissue stiffness values displayed in kilopascals (kPa) or meters per second (m/s) with color-coded mapping
Thyroid Nodule Shear Wave Elastography: A Complete Guide: Wh
Quantitative tissue stiffness measurements in kilopascals (kPa) with color-coded elastograms ranging from soft (blue) to stiff (red)
Breast Lesion Shear Wave Elastography: Comprehensive Clinica
Quantitative tissue stiffness measurements in kilopascals (kPa) or meters per second (m/s) displayed as color-coded elastograms from soft (blue/purple) to stiff (red)
Prostate Shear Wave Elastography: Complete Clinical Guide: W
Quantitative tissue stiffness measurements in kilopascals (kPa) displayed as color-coded parametric maps overlaid on grayscale ultrasound images
Thyroid Nodule on Shear Wave Elastography: What It Shows, Co
Tissue stiffness values displayed in kilopascals (kPa) with color-coded mapping and strain ratios
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