Two-Dimensional Shear-Wave Elastography of the Thyroid in Clinically Healthy Dogs in Different Age Groups

Simple Summary Shear-wave elastography is a technique based on ultrasound that assesses the stiffness of tissues and different organs in the body. The technique has recently been introduced to veterinary medicine, but not all organs have been studied in animals, and there is still limited knowledge about its applicability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the thyroid gland of clinically healthy dogs using 2D shear-wave elastography to establish qualitative and quantitative parameters of thyroid stiffness in dogs in different age groups. The healthy thyroid gland is characterized by a blue-color elastogram, indicative of low stiffness. There is no distinction between adult and elderly dogs, genders, or sizes.Abstract The thyroid of dogs has not been extensively studied in 2D shear-wave elastography, making it challenging to apply this technique in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases in a non-invasive manner. The aim of this study is to evaluate the thyroid glands of healthy dogs using 2D shear-wave elastography in order to establish qualitative and quantitative parameters of tissue stiffness in dogs in different age groups. A total of 31 dogs of various breeds, sexes, and sizes were evaluated. Animals with clinical signs or ultrasound findings indicative of endocrine disease or thyroid lesions were excluded from the study. The shear-wave velocity data in meters per second (m/s) and color elastograms were evaluated and calculated using QelaXto (TM) 2D software. A healthy thyroid exhibits a blue-color elastogram, indicative of low stiffness. The reference range for the shear-wave velocity of thyroid tissue assessed by 2D shear-wave elastography can be between 1.6 and 2.0 m/s, with a variation of +/- 0.889 in adult and senior dogs.