Ultrasound elastography in evaluation of sternocleidomastoid fibrosis after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical value of ultrasound elastography in assessment of sternocleidomastoid fibrosis in patients after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma . Methods Forty‐five patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy ( study group) and 52 healthy volunteers ( control group ) underwent ultrasound elastography . Bilateral sternocleidomastoid elasticity score , thickness , width , resistance index ( RI ) , and pulsatility index ( PI ) were analyzed and compared . Results The sternocleidomastoid elastography in study group was mainly blue ,and that in control group was mainly green . The difference of sternocleidomastoid elasticity score ,width ,and thickness was significant between study group and control group ( P 0 .05) . Conclusions Ultrasound elastography could be effectively and noninvasively used for evaluating the sternocleidomastoid fibrosis in patients after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma . It has a potential clinical value in the grading and classification of fibrosis .