title: Quantifying vaginal tissue elasticity under normal and prolapse conditions by tactile imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vaginal tactile imaging (VTI) is based on principles similar to those of manual palpation. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical suitability of new approach for imaging and tissue elasticity quantification under normal and prolapse conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects included 31 women with normal and prolapse conditions. The tissue elasticity (Young's modulus) was calculated from spatial gradients in the resulting 3-D tactile images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average values for tissue elasticity for the anterior and posterior compartments for normal conditions were 7.4 ± 4.3 kPa and 6.2 ± 3.1 kPa respectively. For Stage III prolapse the average values for tissue elasticity for anterior and posterior compartments were 1.8 ± 0.7 kPa and 1.8 ± 0.5 kPa respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VTI may serve as a means for 3-D imaging of the vagina and a quantitative assessment of vaginal tissue elasticity, providing important information for furthering our understanding of pelvic organ prolapse and surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Artann Laboratories, Trenton, NJ 08618, USA. vegorov@artannlabs.com
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Egorov
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Raalte
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lucente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055698:Touch Perception; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology*
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