Shear wave elastography combined with two-dimensional ultrasonography for detecting optic nerve sheath: An effective tool for assessing preeclampsia

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate two-dimensional ultrasound and shear-wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating optic neuropathy in preeclampsia.

METHODS

Ninety-one singleton pregnant women (51 with preeclampsia [observation group]; 40 without complications [control group]) admitted between January 2022 and April 2022 participated in this study. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and optic nerve stiffness measurement (ONSM) were measured using two-dimensional ultrasound and SWE, respectively, and compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were employed to evaluate the performance of ONSD, ONSM, and combination (ONSD + ONSM) for diagnosing preeclampsia.

RESULTS

The observation (preeclampsia) group ONSD and ONSM were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Optimal diagnostic values for ONSD and ONSM were 4.10 mm and 11.20 kPa, respectively. Areas under the curve for diagnosing preeclampsia were 0.958 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.926-0.990) for ONSD, 0.939 (95% CI, 0.894-0.985) for ONSM, and 0.982 (95% CI, 0.962-1.000) for ONSD + ONSM. There was no significant difference between ONSD and ONSM in diagnosing preeclampsia (p = 0.436). However, ONSD + ONSM was significantly advantageous over ONSD or ONSM alone in diagnosing preeclampsia (p = 0.033; p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonic evaluation of the optic nerve can quantitatively assess optic nerve changes in pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Ultrasonic Elastography Evaluation in Optic Neuritis

PURPOSE

In the present study, we attempted to determine whether ultrasonic elastography (USE) evaluation can be used in a diagnosis of optic neuritis (ON).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirteen patients who each had one normal eye and one eye with a diagnosis of ON were included in the study. Ultrasonography (US) and USE examinations were performed on the affected and non-affected eyes of all participants. Optic nerve and adjacent fat tissue regions at the same depth were selected, and USE measurements were obtained. The optic nerve diameter was measured in both normal and affected eyes.

RESULTS

The mean USE values for the optic nerve were 2.58 ± 0.50 m/s in ON eyes and 1.91 ± 0.39 m/s in normal eyes (p = 0.001). The mean USE values for the optic-nerve adjacent tissue were 2.26 ± 0.45 m/s in ON eyes and 1.77 ± 0.22 m/s in normal eyes (p = 0.001). The mean optic-nerve diameter was 3.80 ± 1.09 mm in ON eyes and 3.28 ± 0.98 mm in normal eyes (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

USE may be considered an accessible, safe technique for the detection of significant optic-nerve tissue stiffness in ON and may be used an adjunctive tool for confirming this diagnosis.