How calcifications affect shear wave speed estimations? An experimental study

In this study, comb-push ultrasound shear elastography was the method used to investigate the effect of calcifications on shear wave elastography estimates. The study was divided in two parts. The first part included a finite element method (FEM) simulation to observe closely the effect of calcifications on shear-wave elastography. The second part involved two phantom experiments to investigate the changes of shear wave speed in presence of macro and microcalcifications. Results from the phantom studies showed that the presence of large isolated macrocalcifications can introduce areas with apparent high stiffness mainly below the calcification when they are evaluated by shear wave elastography.