From the Guidelines
I do not have specific information about whether Radiology Associates in Lethbridge, Alberta performs ultrasound elastography, and therefore, I recommend contacting them directly to inquire about availability and referral requirements. To find out if this service is available, you would need to contact Radiology Associates directly by phone or visit their website for a list of their services. Ultrasound elastography is a specialized imaging technique that measures tissue stiffness to help diagnose conditions like liver fibrosis or breast lesions, as discussed in the context of non-invasive tests for liver disease severity and prognosis 1. If you need this procedure, I recommend calling Radiology Associates at their Lethbridge location to inquire about availability, referral requirements, and appointment scheduling. If they don't offer this service, ask them for recommendations of other facilities in the area that do perform ultrasound elastography. Your primary care physician can also help direct you to appropriate imaging centers that offer this specialized ultrasound technique.
Some key points to consider when evaluating the performance of non-invasive tests (NITs) like ultrasound elastography include the context in which they have been validated and their applicability, which is defined as the sum of reliability (the percentage of interpretable tests) plus failure rate (absence of test results) 1. Additionally, liver stiffness measurement can be obtained by different methods, including vibration-controlled transient elastography (TE) and techniques integrated in ultrasound devices like point-shear wave elastography (pSWE) and bidimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) 1. However, the accuracy of these methods can be influenced by various factors, such as inflammation, obstructive cholestasis, food ingestion, exercise, or venous congestion, and therefore, require careful consideration when interpreting results 1.
It's also worth noting that while ultrasound elastography has several advantages, including being non-invasive and relatively quick to perform, its accuracy can be limited in certain cases, such as in patients with morbid obesity or ascites 1. In such cases, other imaging modalities like magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) may be considered, although they may have their own limitations, such as higher cost and limited availability 1. Ultimately, the choice of imaging modality will depend on the specific clinical context and the availability of resources.
In terms of the specific services offered by Radiology Associates in Lethbridge, Alberta, I recommend verifying their services directly with the facility, as this information may not be publicly available or up-to-date. By contacting them directly, you can get the most accurate and current information about their services, including ultrasound elastography, and make informed decisions about your care.
From the Research
Ultrasound Elastography Services
There is no direct evidence to suggest that Radiology Associates (RA) in Lethbridge, Alberta offers ultrasound elastography services.
Availability of Ultrasound Elastography
- Ultrasound elastography is a widely used diagnostic tool in various medical fields, including liver, breast, thyroid, prostate, kidney, and lymph node imaging 2, 3.
- The technique is used to assess tissue stiffness and elasticity, which can help in diagnosing and differentiating various pathologies 4.
- Ultrasound elastography has been found to be useful in detecting and assessing many different pathologies, including breast masses 5 and musculoskeletal conditions 6.
Clinical Applications
- Ultrasound elastography has various clinical applications, including lesion detection and classification, fibrosis staging, treatment monitoring, vascular imaging, and musculoskeletal applications 4.
- The technique is non-invasive, relatively low-cost, and widely available, making it a valuable tool in medical diagnosis 3.