title: ShearWave elastography of fetal lungs in pregnant baboons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of transabdominal ShearWave elastography of fetal lungs in pregnant baboons.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 9-month period (03/2013-12/2013), two operators prospectively performed ultrasound examinations of fetal lung in pregnant baboons in a primate research center. Evaluation of fetal lungs was first performed in B mode. The ShearWave elastography mode was then activated. Three elasticity measurements were performed by each operator for each lung. Each time, the operator recorded whether the lung was distal or proximal regarding the distance to the probe. Intra- and interobserver reproducibility was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one pregnant baboons were included and ultrasound examinations were performed between 1 and 3 times on each baboon. Measurements were feasible by both operators in 100% of the cases. Intra-observer ICC for the single values of proximal and distal lungs were 0.336 (95% CI: 0.191-0.484) and 0.433 (95% CI: 0.292-0.570), respectively. Intra-observer ICC for the average values of proximal and distal lungs were 0.603 (95% CI: 0.415-0.738) and 0.697 (95% CI: 0.553-0.799), respectively. Inter-observer ICC for the single values of proximal and distal lungs were 0.654 (95% CI: 0.422-0.806) and 0.421 (95% CI: 0.113-0.654), respectively. Inter-observer ICC for the average values of proximal and distal lungs were 0.791 (95% CI: 0.593-0.893) and 0.592 (95% CI: 0.203-0.791), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transabdominal ShearWave elastography of fetal lungs in pregnant baboons is feasible. However, intra- and inter-operator reproducibility is acceptable when the mean of three measurements is used. Further studies are thus needed before an objective study of lung maturity with ShearWave elastography can be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of obstetric ultrasound, hôpital Saint Joseph, 26, boulevard de Louvain, 13285 Marseille cedex 08, France; Institute of reproductive medicine, 6, rue Rocca, 13008 Marseille, France; EA 4264, CERIMED, LIIE (experimental interventional radiology laboratory), Medical school, Campus santé/Aix Marseille université, 27, boulevard Jean-Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France. Electronic address: e.quarello@me.com.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quarello
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPS846 primatology research center, 13790 Rousset-en-Arc, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lacoste
authors.affiliation: AP-HM, hôpital de la Timone, BiosTIC, department of biostatistics and information and communication technology, 13385 Marseille, France; Inserm, IRD, UMR912 SESSTIM, Aix-Marseille université, 13385 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPS846 primatology research center, 13790 Rousset-en-Arc, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melot-Dusseau
authors.affiliation: EA 4264, CERIMED, LIIE (experimental interventional radiology laboratory), Medical school, Campus santé/Aix Marseille université, 27, boulevard Jean-Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorincour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D010215:Papio; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: Elastography; Lungs; Prenatal; ShearWave; Ultrasound