Clinical Research Directory

Elastographic Analysis of Urothelial Bladder Tumours

The preoperative evaluation of bladder tumors includes either computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging in B-mode, or a cystoscopy in the absence of a radiological diagnosis. The diagnosis is confirmed after a transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) and a histopathological analysis. Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal structures. Conventional ultrasound in B-mode can only provide details about the tumor's number, size, and location. Elastography uses ultrasound imaging techniques to examine the stiffness of a tissue. Using the Aixplorer system many recently published papers suggested that ShearWave Elasticity (SWE) imaging, enables the differentiation of low- from high-grade breast tumors by assessing the elasticity of the tissue. Investigators intend to evaluate the stiffness of bladder tumors with ultrasound elastography in comparison with cystometry parameters and tumoral grade.