Possible Role of Shear Wave Elastography in Diagnosis of Malignant Pleural Effusion

Abstract

Background: A malignant pleural effusion (MPE) occurs when there is a buildup of exudate in the pleural space together with the presence of tumor tissue or malignant cells. The clinical context and the elimination of other potential causes are crucial in making a diagnosis of the source of many pleural effusions. Shear wave Elastography is ultrasound technique which is capable of creating color maps of stiffness or elasticity without compression as strain elastography requires. Shear waves generated by mechanical stimulation of solids, with particle motion perpendicular to the propagation direction, are the primary subject of this theory. The purpose of this article was to offer a synopsis of the importance of shear wave elastography in the detection of malignant pleural effusions.Conclusion: One new ultrasound technique, shear wave elastography (SWE), measures the amount of distortion caused by an applied force and can thus quantitatively evaluate tissue stiffness (shear waves). It is possible that ultrasound elastography has evolved as a complementary technique to traditional thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) for the purpose of differentiating pleural effusions. As a radiological technique, it offers a noninvasive, simple, and inexpensive way to differentiate and interpret pleural effusion in everyday practice