Detection and Analysis for the Development of Radiation-induced Muscular Tissue Injury by Using Ultrasound Imaging and Shear-wave Elastography
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Tsai, Ssu-Chia
Abstract
Background: Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation to kill cancer cells to achieve the purpose of cancer treatment. Although radiation therapy can kill cancer cells effectively, it also damages the surrounding normal tissues or organs. The fibrosis of the damaged soft tissue may occur months or years later after treatment. A clear trend of muscle fibrosis can be seen on ultrasound imaging when the patients return for follow up without feeling discomfort or affecting their lifestyle. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to use ultrasound image analysis and shear-wave elastography to follow up the development of damaged muscle tissues after radiotherapy. Materials and methods: Experimental rats were divided into three groups : irradiated 8Gy, 16Gy and 32Gy dose on one hind respectively, and the other hind without irradiation. Ultrasound imaging with designed image analysis system was used to analyze the fiber ratio on the region of interest and ultrasound shear-wave elastography was used to measure the shear-wave velocity (Vs) for the elasticity of muscle tissue. Histological sections were taken from the center of the muscles and stained with either H&E or Masson’s trichrome. Results: Five to six months later after irradiation, ultrasound images of the muscle tissues in the 32Gy group became more obscure as compared with normal muscle tissues. Seven to eight months later after irradiation, ultrasound images of one rat in the 16Gy group became more obscure and the fiber ratio increased. The results showed that ultrasound shear-wave elastography could not discriminate the difference between normal and damaged muscle tissues from the changes of the shear-wave velocity. Radiation-induced muscle tissue injury could be observed in histological sections for the 16Gy and 32Gy groups. Conclusion: Ultrasound imaging could detect the damaged muscle tissues of rats induced by hige-dose radiation and the fiber ratio obtained from the image analysis system increased. Ultrasound shear-wave elastography could not discriminate the difference between normal and damaged muscle tissues from the changes of shear-wave velocity.
Subjects
radiation therapy
ultrasound image
ultrasound elastography
development of damaged tissues
SDGs
Type
thesis
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