title: Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography: Current Clinical Use in Pancreas.
abstract: Elastography is a newer technique for the assessment of tissue elasticity using ultrasound. Cancerous tissue is known to be stiffer (hence, less elastic) than corresponding healthy tissue, and as a result, could be identified in an elasticity-based imaging. Ultrasound elastography has been used in the breast, thyroid, and cervix to differentiate malignant from benign neoplasms and to guide or avoid unnecessary biopsies. In the liver, elastography has enabled a noninvasive and reliable estimate of fibrosis. Endoscopic ultrasound has become a robust diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the management of pancreatic diseases. The addition of elastography to endoscopic ultrasound enabled further characterization of pancreas lesions, and several European and Asian studies have reported encouraging results. The current clinical role of endoscopic ultrasound elastography in the management of pancreas disorders and related literature are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: Utpal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Nichole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henkes
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity