elastography


elastography

A non-invasive technique in which the elasticity of soft tissue is assessed—usually by ultrasonography—during application of mechanical compression or vibration. Because cancer is 5 to 28 times stiffer than normal surrounding soft tissue, strain images of tissues with cancer have been used to detect and classify tumours; the technique may be used in the future to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide surgical guidance.

elastography

(i-las″tog′ră-fē) A procedure to diagnose malignant tissue by imaging with ultrasonography. Since healthy tissue is significantly less stiff than malignant tissue, the imaged tissue may be distorted to differing degrees, and thus it may be possible to distinguish a malignancy in the ultrasound image, e.g., in the diagnosis of breast cancers.