Real-Time X-Plane Shear Wave Elastography Feasibility on Philips 2D xMatrix Transducer

Though ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) has become a clinically accepted diagnostic tool for noninvasive tissue quantification, multi-planar stiffness measurement based on a lD array can only be carried out mechanically, suboptimal for characterizing anisotropic tissues such as musculoskeletal tissue, myocardium, and arterial wall. In those applications, a 2D array with large acoustic aperture, that provides both electronic 3D capability and high B-mode image quality, is preferred from workflow and standardization point of view. This study demonstrated the feasibility of real-time X-Plane elasticity quantification on a Philips commercial 2D high frequency xMatrix transducer. It takes ultrasound SWE one step further and opens opportunities for characterizing anisotropic tissues in an optimal setting.