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Medical imaging has allowed for significant advancements in the field of ultrasound procedures over the years. However, each imaging modality exhibits distinct limitations that differently affect their accuracy. It is imperative to ensure the quality of each modality to identify and eliminate these limitations. To achieve this, a tissue-mimicking material (TMM) phantom is utilised for validation. This study aims to perform a systematic analysis of tissue-mimicking materials used for creating ultrasound phantoms. We reviewed 234 studies on the use of TMM phantoms in ultrasound that were published from 2013 to 2023 from two research databases. Our focus was on studies that discussed TMMs' properties and fabrication for ultrasound, elastography, and flow phantoms. The screening process led to the selection of 16 out of 234 studies to include in the analysis. The TMM ultrasound phantoms were categorised into three groups based on the solvent used; each group offers a broad range of physical properties. The water-based material most closely aligns with the properties of ultrasound. This study provides important information about the materials used for ultrasound phantoms. We also compared these materials to real human tissues and found that PVA matches most of the human tissues the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Prostate cancer (PCa) is considered as one of main causes of death in men globally. More research is required on the diagnostic accuracy of mpUS and advanced modalities in prostate cancer detection, which may provide insightful information into the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of this technique. Therefore, we have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic test accuracy of different ultrasound scanning technologies (shear-wave elastography, contrast enhanced, micro-ultrasound) and grayscale ultrasound technology in the detection of prostate cancer. This will assist in determining whether this new method of detecting prostate cancer is effective. Our results showed that some studies proved that advanced ultrasound modalities are promising methods for the detection of prostate cancer. The present study aimed to assess the diagnostic test accuracy of different ultrasound scanning technologies in the detection of prostate cancer. A systematic search was conducted using the Cochrane Guidelines for Screening and Diagnostic Tests. We performed a systematic search in the international databases PubMed, Medline, Ovid, Embase and Cochrane Library. Searches were designed to find all studies that evaluated Micro-US, mpUS, SWE and CEUS as the main detection modalities for prostate cancer. This study was registered with Research Registry of systematic review and meta-analysis. The QUADAS-2 tool was utilized to perform quality assessment and bias analysis. The literature search generated 1376 studies. Of these, 320 studies were screened for eligibility, with 1056 studies being excluded. Overall, 26 studies with a total of 6370 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity for grayscale, CEUS, SWE, Micro-US and mpUS modalities were 0.66 (95% CI 0.54–0.73) 0.73 (95% CI 0.58–0.88), 0.82 (95% CI 0.75–0.90), 0.85 (95% CI 0.76–0.94) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.71–1.03), respectively. Moreover, the pooled specificity for grayscale, CEUS, SWE, Micro-US and mpUS modalities were 0.56 (95% CI 0.21–0.90), 0.78 (95% CI 0.67–0.88), 0.76 (95% CI 0.65–0.88), 0.43 (95% CI 0.28–0.59) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.54–0.81), respectively. In terms of sensitivity, substantial heterogeneity between studies was detected (I2 = 72%, p = 0.000 < 0.05). In relation to specificity, extreme heterogeneity was detected (I2 = 93%, p = 0.000 < 0.05). Some studies proved that advanced ultrasound modalities such as mpUS, Micro-US, shear-wave elastography, contrast enhanced and micro-ultrasound are promising methods for the detection of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We tested the diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography to detect and phenotypically characterize prostate cancer compared with whole mount radical prostatectomy histopathology. Materials and Methods In this prospective, protocol driven, diagnostic accuracy study 212 consecutive men undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer were recruited. Quantitative stiffness data on the prostate gland were obtained in each patient using an endocavitary transrectal transducer before laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Those data were compared with a detailed histopathological examination of the radical prostatectomy specimen using 3-dimensional printing mold based technology to ensure an improved image histology orientation. ROC curves were assessed between the groups. Results Quantitative stiffness data estimated in kPa were significantly higher in malignant compared with benign areas. At a cutoff of 82.6 kPa the sensitivity and specificity of shear wave elastography were 96.8% and 67.8%, respectively (p <0.01). Significant differences were observed for different cancer grades with the Young moduli, including 91.6, 102.3 and 131.8 kPa for low grade (Gleason score 6), intermediate grade (Gleason score 7) and high grade (Gleason score 8 or greater) prostate cancer, respectively (p <0.05). Shear wave elastography also detected capsular breaches with significant prediction of prostate cancer pathological staging. Potential limitations include selection bias and study being single center site. Conclusions Quantitative shear wave elastography via the transrectal approach accurately detected cancer foci and revealed significant differences between cancerous and benign tissue. Moreover, this technique can be used to reliably phenotype prostate cancer aggressiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is growing evidence suggesting that multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a marker for prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness and could be used to plan treatment. Improving early detection of clinically significant PCa with pre-biopsy mpMRI would very likely have advantages including optimising the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and diminishing patient anxiety.Methods and Materials: This is a prospective multicentre study of pre-biopsy mpMRI diagnostic test accuracy with subgroup randomisation at a 1:1 ratio with respect to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and MRI/US fusion-guided biopsy or TRUS-only biopsy. It is designed as a single-gate study with a single set of inclusion criteria. The total duration of the recruitment phase was 48 months; however, this has now been extended to 66 months. A sample size of 600 participants is required.Discussion: The primary objective is to determine whether mpMRI can improve PCa detection and characterisation. The key secondary objective is to determine whether MRI/US fusion-guided biopsy can reduce the number of false-negative biopsies. Ethical approval was obtained from the East of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1 (14/ES/1070) on 20 November 2014. The results of this study will be used for publication and presentation in national and international journals and at scientific conferences.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02745496. Retrospectively registered on 20 April 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present first quantitative three-dimensional (3D) data sets recorded using optical coherence elastography (OCE) for the diagnosis and detection of prostate cancer (PCa). 120 transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy specimens from 10 men suspected with prostate cancer were imaged using OCE. 3D quantitative mechanical assessment of biopsy specimens obtained in kilopascals (kPa) at an interval of 40 µm was compared with histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for OCE in comparison to histopathology. The results show OCE imaging could reliably differentiate between benign prostate tissue, acinar atypical hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and malignant PCa. The sensitivity and specificity of OCE for the detection of prostate cancer was 0.98 and 0.91 with AUC > 0.99. Quantitative 3D OCE based on the assessment of mechanical properties of tissues can reliably differentiate prostate tissue specimen in an ex-vivo setting. This is a promising imaging modality for characterising different grades of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]