Role of Shear Wave Elastography for Assessment and Diagnosis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. It is a very common urological problem among ageing men and leads to lower urinary tract symptoms. Although increase in both stromal and epithelial elements of the prostate occurs in BPH, the major increase in prostate volume is due to increased number of stromal smooth muscle cells. Imaging of the prostate can be done using several imaging modalities including trans abdominal US, TRUS, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, prostate imaging is mainly performed by TRUS or trans abdominal US in daily routine practice. Today we have a new diagnostic imaging modality has emerged called elastography, which uses ultrasound to assess tissue differences in stiffness (or elasticity). Tissue stiffness is generally measured by a physical quantity called Young’s modulus and expressed in pressure units - Pascal's, or more commonly kilo Pascal's (kPa). Elastography has been considered to be a non-invasive and cost-effective imaging technology for tissue elasticity