Abstract: Objective To investigate the Young's modulus of the biceps brachii and brachioradialis in Parkinson's disease(PD) with quantitative shear-wave ultrasound elasticity technique, and to observe the value of elastography in PD. Methods A shear-wave elasto-sonography(Aixplorer model, Supersonic Imaging, France) coupled with a linear array transducer array(4~15 MHz) was employed. Shear-wave ultrasound elasticity imaging of biceps brachii and brachioradialis longitudinal section were performed in 46 patients with Parkinson's disease〔mean age(47.9±2.8)years〕 in both sides and 31 healthy controls〔mean age(46.7±3.2)years〕 in right arm. The quantitative elasticity values were compared among the patients' symptomatic side, another side(non/mild symptom) and the controls. Results The Young's modulus of biceps brachii in symptomatic side, another side of patients and controls were(59.94±20.91)kPa, (47.77±24.00)kPa and(24.44±5.09)kPa, the mean elasticity modulu values of the biceps brachii longitudinal section of PD patients were greater in both sides than those of control group(P<0.05), and the mean value of the biceps brachii in symptomatic side was higher than that of another side(P<0.05). The mean Young's modulus of biceps brachii in symptomatic side, another side of patients and controls was(32.18±17.19)kPa, (28.41±13.19) kPa and(21.71±7.45)kPa, the mean elasticity modulus of the brachioradialis longitudinal section of PD patients were greater in both sides than those of control group(P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the symptomatic side and another side of PD patients(P>0.05). Conclusion Shear-wave ultrasound elasticity imaging can find the characteristics of the elastic modulus of the biceps brachii and brachioradialis longitudinal section, providing a new method to assess the muscle tone in PD.

Key words: shear-wave, ultrasound, elasticity imaging, Parkinson’s disease, muscle