On the safety of elastography in fetal medicine: A preliminary study of hypoacusia

Abstract

Elastography is a promising technology to provide additional clinical information on the cervical effacement to that obtained from Bishop test and conventional cervicometry by ultrasounds. Among the different techniques, transient, or acoustic radiation force elastography (ARFE) is becoming the most common commercial elastography technique. However, the high intensity of thr beam that ARFE emits to generate the necessary concentrated burst of acoustic radiation [1] to induce a tractable shear oscillatory displacement (see Figure 1), has raised some concerns about its potential teratogenous effects during pregnancy. This letter is aimed at opening a debate to assess the safety of this type of elastography, and in particular to provide a preliminary screening of cochlear damage in exposed fetus.