Thermally induced changes in the elastic properties of prostatic tissue: a preliminary study onex vivobovine samples

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the thermally induced changes in the elastic properties of prostatic tissue and investigate their correlation with thermal dose. APPROACH: Ex vivo bovine prostate samples were subjected to three heating protocols-constant-rate heating, steady-state temperature, and steady-state temperature followed by rapid cooling. Acoustic Radiation Force-based Shear Wave Elastography was used to monitor shear wave speed (SWS), and the results were interpreted in relation to thermal dose using the cumulative equivalent minutes at 43°C (CEM43) scale. MAIN RESULTS: Thermal exposure consistently resulted in increased SWS, with increments of up to five-fold observed at temperatures above 60°C in the constant-rate heating tests. Irreversible changes were also observed in the steady-state temperature test followed by rapid cooling even at thermal exposures as low as 20 CEM43 minutes. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings support the potential of elastography to delineate thermally ablated regions in prostate cancer treatment and encourages further investigation on the potential of SWS to serve as a biomarker of thermal dose.