EFSUMB guidelines on the clinical use of elastography

Objective: Elastography has emerged as a clinically useful addition to conventional ultrasound in many diagnostic applications. However, there is a need to improve standards of practice and interpretation as well as to standardise terminology.

Methods: A steering committee commissioned experienced European users to submit sections of guidelines along the lines of those previously published for contrast enhanced ultrasound [1, 2]. An introductory section on the basic principles is followed by sections covering parts of the body in which elastography is widely studied, including the liver, the breast, endoscopic uses, the bowel, the prostate, the thyroid and the musculoskeletal system.

Results: The basic principles section aims to improve understanding of clinical elastography by synthesising the underlying principles of the two most commonly used forms, strain and shear wave elastography. Each clinical section contains a survey of the literature, especially where there are meta-analyses, and practical advice on the performance and interpretation of elasticity examinations. The edited document is to be submitted to the European Journal of Ultrasound (Ultraschall in der Medizin) with a target date of January 2013.

Conclusions: It is hoped that the EFSUMB Guidelines on Elastography will be as useful as the CEUS Guidelines in improving understanding and clinical practice. The contributions of the EFSUMB Elastography Guidelines team is gratefully acknowledged.

References:

[1] Piscaglia F, Nolsoe C, Dietrich CF, et al. (2012) The EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations on the Clinical Practice of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS): update 2011 on non-hepatic applications. Ultraschall in der Medizin, 33:33 – 59

[2] Claudon M, Dietrich CF, Choi BI, Cosgrove DO, Kudo M, Nolsoe CP et al. Guidelines and Good Clinical Practice Recommendations for Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Liver – Update 2012. Ultraschall Med 2012.