QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF DENERVATED MUSCLE ATROPHYWITH SHEAR WAVE ULTRASOUND ELASTOGRAPHY AND A COMPARISON WITH THE HISTOPATHOLOGIC PARAMETERS IN AN ANIMAL MODEL

This study explored the efficacy of shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWUE) for quantitative evaluation of denervated muscle atrophy in a rabbit model. The elastic modulus of the triceps surae muscle was measured with SWUE and compared with histopathologic parameters at baseline and at various post-denervation times (2, 4 and 8 wk) with 10 animals in each group. Our results revealed that the elastic modulus of denervated muscle was significantly lower at 2 wk but higher at 8 wk compared with that at the baseline (p < 0.05), and no significant difference was found between the elastic modulus at 4 wk and that at the baseline (p > 0.05). The wetweight ratio and the muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the denervated muscle decreased gradually during the 8 wk post-denervation together with a gradual increase of the collagen fiber area (p < 0.05). In conclusion, SWUE was useful for quantitative evaluation of muscle denervation. The decreased elastic modulus might be an early sign of denervated muscle atrophy. (E-mail: wangyuexiang1999@ sina. com) (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf ofWorld Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.