title: Feasibility and reproducibility of ShearWave(TM) elastography of fetal baboon organs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of transabdominal ShearWave(TM) elastography of fetal organs in pregnant baboons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal ultrasounds of all pregnant baboons in a single primate research center were performed prospectively during 9 months. The visualization of fetal targeted organs (liver, proximal and distal lungs, brain white matter and periventricular gray matter) was initially performed using 2D ultrasound, and then elastography mode was activated. For each organ, three measurements were carried out by two operators. Intra-observer and inter-observer intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period (03/2013-12/2013), 21 pregnant baboons (21 fetuses) were included. One to three ultrasound scans were performed for each fetus. The measurements were feasible by the two operators in all cases. The intra-observer and inter-observer ICC were 0.654, 95% CI (0.606 to 0.699) and 0.645, 95% CI (0.553 to 0.721) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transabdominal ShearWave(TM) Elastography of fetal organs can be achieved in pregnant baboons. The intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility is correct but vary according to the targeted organs.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'échographie de diagnostic prénatal, Hôpital Saint Joseph, Marseille, France.|Institut de Médecine de la Reproduction, Marseille, France.|LIIE (Laboratoire d'Imagerie Interventionnelle Expérimentale) - CERIMED - Faculté de Médecine, Campus Santé/Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quarello
authors.affiliation: Station CNRS UPS846 de primatologie, Rousset-en-Arc, France.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lacoste
authors.affiliation: Service Biostatistique et Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication (BiosTIC), Hôpital de la Timone, APHM, Marseille, France.|Aix-Marseille Université, Inserm, IRD, UMR912 SESSTIM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Station CNRS UPS846 de primatologie, Rousset-en-Arc, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melot-Dusseau
authors.affiliation: LIIE (Laboratoire d'Imagerie Interventionnelle Expérimentale) - CERIMED - Faculté de Médecine, Campus Santé/Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorincour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004453:Echoencephalography; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010215:Papio; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*