# Role of Brain Elastography in the Neonatal Setting: State of the Art of Ultrasonographic Techniques and Future Perspectives

## TL;DR

Brain elastography is a new imaging technique that could improve diagnosis in neonates by measuring brain tissue stiffness.

## Contribution

This paper reviews the feasibility and potential future use of brain ultrasound elastography in neonates.

## Key findings

- Brain elastography can provide quantitative data on tissue stiffness in neonates.
- There is limited experience with brain elastography in the neonatal setting.
- Brain elastography may serve as a complementary tool to traditional imaging techniques.

## Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging is currently used in the neonatal setting for assessing features of the neonatal brain. However, its utilization is constrained by logistic, technical, or clinical challenges. Brain elastography is a new research technique which enhances the diagnostic capability of traditional imaging, and can be paired with both ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. In particular, brain elastography adds objective and quantitative information to traditional imaging by detecting differences in tissue elasticity/stiffness, which may represent a surrogate marker of the physiologic and pathologic features of the neonatal brain. To date, very limited experience exists about the use of brain elastography specifically in the neonatal setting. The aim of the present review was to describe the most recent information about the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of brain ultrasound elastography (USE) in neonates, and to provide information about the possible future applications and perspectives of brain elastography.