Two-dimensional shear wave elastography can predict normal fetal lung and liver elasticity

Key clinical point: Normal fetal lung and liver elasticity values elucidated using two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) are valid and repeatable for a probe-region of interest distance of ≤8 cm and demonstrate the histological modifications of both the organs during gestation.

Major finding: Fetal liver elasticity increased significantly from 3.86 kPa at 24 weeks of gestation (WG) to 4.45 kPa at 39 WG (P < .01). Fetal lung elasticity increased from 4.12 kPa to 5.03 kPa between 24 and 32 WG (P < .002), after which it gradually declined to 4.54 kPa at 36 WG and 3.94 kPa at 39 WG.

Study details: The data come from a prospective, observational, multicenter study that included 72 singleton pregnant women at 24 ±1  WG who underwent 2D-SWE at 28, 32, 36, and 39 WG ± 1 week.

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Disclosures: The study was funded by the University Hospital of Besançon, France. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Nallet C et al. Prenatal quantification of human foetal lung and liver elasticities between 24 and 39 weeks of gestation using 2D shear wave elastography. Eur Radiol. 2022 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1007/s00330-022-08654-1