Elastography Department

State-of-the-Art Tissue Stiffness Assessment with High Specialization & Cutting-Edge Technology
Elastography is an advanced imaging technique that allows for the evaluation of the mechanical stiffness of tissues, providing critical diagnostic information in a non-invasive manner. At the Elastography Department of YGEIA Group, both types of elastography – strain and shear wave elastography – are performed by specialized physicians with expertise in dynamic soft-tissue imaging.

Types of Elastography

Strain Elastography (SE):

Measures tissue deformation in response to external compression. Results are displayed as color-coded maps (qualitative/semi-quantitative).

Shear Wave Elastography (SWE):

Measures the propagation speed of shear waves generated within the tissue, enabling quantitative and reproducible assessment of stiffness (kPa or m/s). This is the most technologically advanced form of elastography.

Clinical Applications

Elastography enhances diagnostic accuracy and reduces unnecessary biopsies across a wide range of conditions, primarily:
  • Liver
  • Fibrosis staging in chronic liver diseases (HBV, HCV, NASH, etc.)
  • Assessment of hepatic steatosis
  • Monitoring therapeutic response
  • Alternative to liver biopsy in many cases
Shear wave elastography has demonstrated strong correlation with fibrosis stages (F1–F4), with diagnostic accuracy approaching 90% in multicenter studies (EASL Guidelines, 2021).
  • Thyroid Gland
  • Nodule evaluation (in conjunction with TIRADS)
  • Improved risk stratification for malignancy
  • Guidance for decision-making between FNA and follow-up
Thyroid elastography improves sensitivity and specificity in nodule assessment, with positive evidence from meta-analyses (Bhatia et al., AJR, 2015).
Advantages
  • Non-invasive & painless procedure
  • Quantitative data with high reproducibility
  • Reduces the need for biopsies in liver, breast, and thyroid
  • Suitable for regular follow-up without radiation exposure
  • Performed with cutting-edge technology and highly trained specialists
At YGEIA, elastography is performed according to highly specialized diagnostic protocols, using state-of-the-art ultrasound systems (e.g., Siemens, GE, Canon) with both strain and shear wave elastography capabilities. Examinations are conducted by expert radiologists, ensuring reliability, diagnostic accuracy, and clinical value.
Selected References
  • European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Clinical Practice Guidelines, 2021
  • Bhatia KSS et al. “Thyroid Nodules: Differentiation with Shear-Wave Elastography…” AJR, 2015
  • Chang JM et al. “Added Value of Shear-Wave Elastography…” Radiology, 2013
  • World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) Guidelines, 2015