Lung ultrasound surface wave elastography for assessing instititial lung disease

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that lung ultrasound surface wave elastography (LUSWE) can effectively differentiate between healthy individuals and patients with interstitial lung disease and systemic sclerosis by measuring tissue stiffness noninvasively.

Contribution

The paper introduces LUSWE as a novel, noninvasive method for assessing lung and skin tissue stiffness in ILD and SSc patients, expanding its potential clinical applications.

Findings

Lung surface wave speeds are higher in ILD patients than controls.

Skin elasticity and viscosity are increased in ILD and SSc patients.

LUSWE can distinguish between healthy and diseased tissues effectively.

Abstract

Lung ultrasound surface wave elastography (LUSWE) is a novel noninvasive technique for measuring superficial lung tissue stiffness.The purpose of this study was to translate LUSWE for assessing patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and various connective diseases including systemic sclerosis (SSc).In this study, LUSWE was used to measure the surface wave speed of lung at 100 Hz, 150 Hz and 200 Hz through six intercostal lung spaces for 91 patients with ILD and 30 healthy control subjects. In addition, skin viscoelasticity was measured at both forearms and upper arms for patients and controls. The surface wave speeds of patients' lungs were significantly higher than those of control subjects for the six intercostal spaces and the three excitation frequencies. Patient skin elasticity and viscosity were significantly higher than those of control subjects for the four locations on the arm. In dividing ILD patients into two groups, ILD patients with SSc and ILD patients without SSc, significant differences between each patient group with the control group were found for both the lung and skin.No significant differences were found between the two patients group, although there were some differences at a few locations and at 100 Hz. LUSWE may be useful for assessing ILD and SSc and screening early stage patients.