Measurements of swine renal cortex shear elasticity and viscosity with Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV)

Fibrosis has been associated with altered tissue structure affecting the biomechanical properties of the organs, quantifiable as elasticity and viscosity. Renal fibrosis threatens kidney viability. Evaluation of renal fibrosis by conventional imaging modalities is difficult. Importantly, early detection of renal fibrosis may guide therapy and eliminate invasive biopsy procedures. A newly emerging method called Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV) offers a potential tool to determine renal elasticity and viscosity in vivo. SDUV quantifies both elasticity and viscosity by evaluating dispersion of shear wave propagation speed versus its frequency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of SDUV for in vitro measurements of renal cortex elasticity and viscosity in swine kidney.