Shear wave elastography safety in fetus: A quantitative health risk assessment.
Résumé
PURPOSE: To identify the effects of shear wave elastography in the fetus for
evaluation in widespread use.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Health Risk Assessment method proposed by the National
Research Council was used with literature to evaluate the safety of shear wave
elastography for the fetus regarding its potential effects in human tissues.
RESULTS: The experimental and epidemiologic data from 25 articles showed that
shear wave elastography maintained the same thermal effect as pulsed Doppler
ultrasound already authorized in obstetrics, and that cavitation effect on fetal
tissue is improbable. Nonetheless, the vibratory character of shear waves could
induce displacement of fetal tissue while potential effects of very short
duration energy peaks of the radiation force focused wave front remain unknown.
CONCLUSION: The actual knowledge does not provide enough information to assess
the effects of shear wave elastography on fetal tissues, thus these points have
to be explored by further experimental studies.