The Emerging Role of Elastography in Cancer

Abstract

Real-time elastography is an emerging sonographic imaging technique that provides a noninvasive method of evaluating biomechanical properties of a lesion: specifically, the elasticity, or stiffness, of the cellular composition relative to surrounding tissue. Clinical studies have demonstrated the diagnostic capability of elastography to detect specific cancers with accuracy that may substantially affect patient care and improve outcome. This literature review examines the basics of elastography, the advantages and limitations of this technique, and the results of research centered on its role in cancer detection and evaluation of tissue response to cancer therapies.