Ultrasound Elastography in Benign Gynecology: A Scoping Review.
Reprod Sci
; 31(8): 2508-2522, 2024 08.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38664357
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To perform a scoping review of the literature in which ultrasound elastography (UE) has been used in benign gynecology and identify avenues for its use in future research and clinical implementations.METHODS:
A structured search of EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane databases was conducted (last search date April 15th, 2022). Eligible studies included adult participants with female pelvic anatomy. English language papers focusing on the utility of ultrasound elastography applied to benign gynecology were included. Narrative reviews, conference abstracts, and letters to the editor were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts for inclusion, a third reviewer was consulted in cases of disagreement. Study quality was assessed by a checklist for study implementation and elastography technique. Extracted data included elastography technology, gynecologic application, opportunities for clinical implementation, and strengths and limitations.RESULTS:
The search returned 2026 studies. A total of 40 studies, published between 2013 and 2022, were retained for data extraction. Studies most frequently used shear wave elastography as the method of UE (n = 23), followed by strain elastography (n = 13) and acoustic radiation force impulse (n = 4). Most common clinical applications for UE were the diagnosis of adenomyosis and uterine fibroids (27.5%), assessment of pelvic floor muscle function (22.5%), and describing the elastic properties of polycystic ovaries (17.5%) and the uterine cervix (15.0%). Limitations of the technology were identified as the lack of published reference values for gynecologic organs and difficulties in assessing tissues deep to the transducer.CONCLUSION:
Future research is needed to validate the use of ultrasound elastography in gynecology under both normal and pathologic conditions.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Elasticity Imaging Techniques
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Reprod Sci
Journal subject:
MEDICINA REPRODUTIVA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication: