title: Preliminary Results on the Feasibility of Using ARFI/SWEI to Assess Cutaneous Sclerotic Diseases.
abstract: In this study, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) were applied to the skin to investigate the feasibility of their use in assessing sclerotic skin diseases. Our motivation was to develop a non-invasive imaging technology with real-time feedback of sclerotic skin disease diagnosis. This paper shows representative results from an ongoing study, recruiting patients with and without sclerosis. The stiffness of the imaged site was evaluated using two metrics: mean ARFI displacement magnitude and bulk shear wave speed inside the region of interest (ROI). In a subject with localized graft versus host disease (GVHD), the mean ARFI displacement inside sclerotic skin was 61% lower (p < 0.01) and shear wave speed 128% higher (p < 0.005) compared to those in normal skin-indicating stiffer mechanical properties in the sclerotic skin. This trend persisted through disease types. We conclude ARFI and SWEI can successfully differentiate sclerotic lesions from normal dermis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. Electronic address: jinylee88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seung Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Adela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cardones
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nightingale
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palmeri
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Acoustic radiation force; Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging; Cutaneous sclerotic diseases; Shear wave speed