Point shear wave elastography application in assessment pancreas tissue stiffness: A pilot study

F F Al Mutairi; J H Alyami; A M Aldhebaib; M A Wazzan; K G Khashoggi; A H Abduljabar; J H Alotaibi; T R Alzahrani; Z H Alshehri; S S Almosabi; O A Alghamdi; H Alnahdi; A S Almalki; R W Edrees; G Alghamdi; A A Althobaiti; A M Almuraih; B S Almutairi

doi:10.1016/j.radi.2024.12.004

Point shear wave elastography application in assessment pancreas tissue stiffness: A pilot study

Radiography (Lond). 2024 Dec 24;31(1):328-332. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.12.004. Online ahead of print.

Authors

F F Al Mutairi¹, J H Alyami², A M Aldhebaib³, M A Wazzan⁴, K G Khashoggi⁵, A H Abduljabar⁶, J H Alotaibi⁷, T R Alzahrani⁸, Z H Alshehri⁹, S S Almosabi¹⁰, O A Alghamdi¹¹, H Alnahdi¹², A S Almalki¹³, R W Edrees¹⁴, G Alghamdi¹⁵, A A Althobaiti¹⁶, A M Almuraih¹⁷, B S Almutairi¹⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Animal House Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Smart Medical Imaging Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ffalmutairi@kau.edu.sa.
² Department of Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Animal House Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Smart Medical Imaging Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: jhalyami@kau.edu.sa.
³ Radiological Sciences Program, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: dhebaiba@ksau-hs.edu.sa.
⁴ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Mawazzan@kau.edu.sa.
⁵ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: kkhashoggi@kau.edu.sa.
⁶ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: aabduljabar@kau.edu.sa.
⁷ Department of Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: jalotaibi@kau.edu.sa.
⁸ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: troalzahrani@kau.edu.sa.
⁹ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: zhalshhri@kau.edu.sa.
¹⁰ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: salmasabi@kau.edu.sa.
¹¹ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: oaalghamdi1@kau.edu.sa.
¹² Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: hmalnahdi@kau.edu.sa.
¹³ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: abdulrahmanalmalki23@gmail.com.
¹⁴ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: roudinahedrees@hotmail.com.
¹⁵ Department of Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ghadah.alghamdi24@gmail.com.
¹⁶ Department of Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: azzahalthobaiti8@gmail.com.
¹⁷ Department of Radiologic Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ali-mesfer@hotmail.com.
¹⁸ Radiology Department, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Bmut26@gmail.com.

PMID: 39721299
DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.12.004

Abstract

Introduction: Recent advancements in medical imaging, such as point shear wave elastography (pSWE), offer non-invasive methods to assess tissue stiffness and structural changes. This study explores the use of pSWE to evaluate pancreatic stiffness and dimensions in three different pancreas parts.

Methods: This study was conducted at diagnostic radiology department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, between June 2022 and November,2022. Thirty-one diabetic patients and thirty-one healthy controls were included. Ultrasound pSWE examination was performed using a ultrasound system (Philips Elite Epic 7) to measure stiffness across different pancreatic parts. Pancreatic stiffness was quantified in meters per second (m/s), and the dimensions of each pancreatic part were recorded. Different parameters, including age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities, were collected and analyzed.

Results: Diabetic patients exhibited significantly higher shear wave velocities (SWVs) compared to healthy controls, indicating increased pancreatic stiffness. The mean shear wave velocity was 1.7 m/s in diabetic versus 0.6 m/s in controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, the pancreatic head dimensions were significantly large in diabetic patients (2.1 cm vs. 1.8 cm; p = 0.003), while the body and tail part showed no significant differences. A positive correlation was found between SWVs and BMI.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the potential of pSWE as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection and monitoring of diabetes-related pancreatic alterations. Assessing pancreatic stiffness and dimensions through pSWE can help in identify patients at risk for pancreatic complications and optimize management strategies.

Implications for practice: Point shear wave elastography (pSWE) could be a useful, non-invasive tool for early detection of pancreatic changes in diabetic patients, identifying those at risk for complications. Integrating pSWE into routine diabetes check may enhance early interventions and improve outcomes.

Keywords: (pSWE); Diabetes mellitus; Point shear wave elastography; Stiffness; Ultrasound.