Myocardial stiffness assessment in pediatric cardiology using shear wave imaging

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a potential tool to support diagnosis and surgical decision making in children with cardiac disorders. However, SWE in this particular setting is challenged by dispersion and 3D shear wave propagation paths, caused by the relatively thin and curved left ventricle with its anisotropic material properties, ultimately complicating the link between SW propagation and tissue stiffness. To study these complex wave phenomena and the accuracy of currently available signal processing algorithms, we used a combined experimental and numerical approach on a generic model of the left ventricle. These experiments revealed that phase speed analysis provided a better estimate of actual stiffness than group speed analysis. On the other hand, our finite element model contributed to gaining insights in the complex wave propagation pattern and allowed 3D-visualization of the SW.