Evaluation of liver, spleen and kidney elasticity using elastography in healthy sheep

Ultrasound elastography is a diagnostic method that noninvasively evaluates the elasticity of organs. No study on two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) for sheep was found in the literature. This study aims to establish a standard for the elasticity values of abdominal organs using 2-D SWE in healthy sheep. The material of the study consisted of 16 female Merino sheep aged 8-12 months. One animal was excluded from the study due to fatty liver disease and another animal died during the study. In this study, it aimed to determine the liver, spleen and kidney elasticity values of 14 Merino sheep. All sheep were subjected to haemogram and serum biochemical analyses to determine their health. The liver and spleen were measured three times in each sheep by three different observers, but the kidney was excluded from the study because the anatomical structure of the kidney was not suitable for safe image taking. 252 measurements were obtained from the liver and spleen of each of the 14 animals by three observers, and a range for the elasticity values of these organs was determined. Inter-observer repeatability was assessed and no statistically significant difference was found. The mean 2D-SWE value of the liver was 2,92±0,91 kPa with a 95% confidence interval of 2,76-3,08 kPa. The mean 2D-SWE value of the spleen was 3,18±0,64 kPa with a 95% confidence interval of 3,07-3,29 kPa. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that 2D-SWE can be used as an effective tool in studies on liver and spleen pathologies in sheep. A reference value was established as a basis for future studies, but it was determined that this reference value should be reinforced by using different anatomical positions, movement-restricting applications, and a large number of animals.