Editor: Richard G. Barr, MD
Publisher: Thieme – 178 pages
Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram
Elastography, sometimes called ultrasound elastography is relatively newer imaging modality that can reveal tissue softness and stiffness. It is used for example to discover cancer in lesions in the breast and other areas, though problematic in looking for diseases in deeper organs. This method also helps discover other conditions such as inflammation and fibrosis, and sometimes helps avoid invasive procedures such as biopsies.
This is a must-have book for breast specialists, gastroenterologists and hepatologists, imaging technicians using various devices, oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and sonographers.
The images provided through elastography, called elastograms provide clinical information that cannot be obtained with other techniques. Other imaging techniques such as Doppler, which assesses vascular flow, and B-mode ultrasound, which evaluates acoustic properties, are also used in addition to elastography, to make a more detailed analysis of disease in tissues.
Elastography is useful in discovering diseases primarily in soft tissue organs and glands and in the musculoskeletal system. In addition to the breast, it is used to check for ailments, anomalies, diseases and disorders in the liver, kidneys, lymph nodes, pancreas, prostate, salivary glands, spleen, testes, and thyroid gland.
Thirty-six specialists, with 25 from Italy, and 11from five other countries – Canada, France, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States – authored the 13 chapters of this book. We list them below to give you a broad overview of the contents of this book:
- Introduction to Elastrography
- Principles of Elastography
- Elastrography for Diffuse Liver Disease
- Elastography for Focal Liver Disease
- Elastrography for the Breast
- Elastrography of the Thyroid Gland
- Elastography of the Prostate
- Elastography of the Lymph Nodes
- Elastrograhy of the Spleen, Pancreas and Kidneys
- Elastography of the Musculoskeletal System
- Elastography of the Salivary Glands, Lymph Nodes, and Testes
- Magnetic Resistance Elastrography
- Future Applications for Elastography
Almost all of the content providers are physicians having radiology as their practice area, with most others working in oncology and pathology, and some in gastroenterology, infectious diseases, and orthopedics.
This book covers, among others, the following important matters:
- Principles and techniques in elastography
- Tips and tricks in obtaining a high-quality elastogram
- Methods for interpr4etation of results
- Understanding artifacts and limitations encountered and being able to tell if they are related to one’s technique or actual diagnostic information
- Information on using elastography in examining a variety of organs
This valuable book on elastography is a practical guide based on the experience and expertise developed by some of the leading authorities in this field.
Among the main benefits of using this book are the following:
- Discussion of key differences between strain elastography and shear wave elastography by individual organ systems
- Clinical pearls on how to accurately perform elastography and tips for avoiding false-positive or false-negative results
- Case studies that elucidate the targeted use of elastographic findings by specific pathology
- Illustrations in the chapters on the breast and liver that demonstrate precise transducer techniques
- Magnetic Resistance Imaging (MRI) elastography as an emerging and safe tool, primarily for the detection of liver disease, with emerging potential for additional organs
This is an excellent book on the relatively newer diagnostic technique of elastography. This work is authoritative as well as comprehensive, with 36 experts contributing sharing their knowledge and insight for your benefit.
Editor:
Richard G. Barr, MD, PhD, FACR, FSRU, FAIUM is Professor of Radiology at Northeast Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio, and Medical Director of Southwoods Imaging in Youngstown, Ohio.
