Journal of Ultrasonography最新文献

Aim: We sought to create and describe a self-made simulator designed and created for teaching purposes: a high-fidelity ultrasound phantom for demonstrating antral follicle count, ultrasound supervision of controlled of ovarian stimulation, and ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval.

Materials and methods: The uterus and ovaries of the ultrasound phantom were made from beef tongue, a male condom, latex gloves, cotton suture threads, bi-distilled water, and ultrasound gel. The components were placed in a pelvis created using three-dimensional (3D) printing. The phantom was presented to and evaluated by a group of 14 physicians pursuing a postgraduate course in reproductive medicine. Two training stations were structured: one to simulate antral follicle count and controlled ovarian stimulation and the other to simulate ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. Future specialists were requested to complete a feedback questionnaire evaluating the self-made simulator and the two practice stations.

Results: The transvaginal ultrasound phantom was successfully created, making it possible to simulate antral follicle count, ultrasound control of ovarian hyperstimulation, and oocyte retrieval, and to capture ultrasound images. A review of the answers provided in the feedback questionnaire showed that the phantom had a good appearance and design, was realistic, helped to improve motor coordination, and could be a useful tool in the training of specialists in assisted reproduction.

Conclusion: This phantom was designed to enable instruction and practice in the evaluation of ovarian follicles and ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval in a supervised training environment. This self-made simulator is proposed as a training tool that could be included in the curricular structure of residency and postgraduate programs in reproductive medicine.

Aim of the study: In this article, we describe a rare case of the nutcracker syndrome caused by combined compression of the left anteroaortic and retroaortic renal veins. Case description: A 42-year-old woman presented with microhematuria and left flank pain. The patient underwent computed tomography and Doppler ultrasound which showed the left renal veins with anteroaortic and retroaortic courses, with signs of compression. Compression of the anteroaortic renal vein was caused by a narrowing of the aortomesenteric space, whereas compression of the retroaortic renal vein was caused by a narrowing of the aortovertebral space.

Conclusions: NCS is a rare disease, poorly understood and difficult to diagnose mainly due to the non-specificity of symptoms. Imaging is essential for diagnosis, and the combination of ultrasound and computed tomography allows for better classification of the disease. Increased disclosure of these cases can significantly contribute to a reduction of false negatives.

Background: Helicobacter pylori can colonize the submucosal layer as well as the mucosa in the stomach. Inflammation and erosions cause both mucosal and submucosal thickening in patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Elastography is a method for measuring the elasticity and hardness of tissues by visualization of their response to the applied force. Hard tissues respond to applied compression differently compared to soft tissues. Hard tissues displace as a whole without deforming as opposed to soft tissues. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic performance of transabdominal ultrasound elastography in detecting Helicobacter pylori gastritis in children.

Methods: Nineteen children (group 1) with Helicobacter pylori gastritis, 33 children (group 2) with Helicobacter pylori (-) gastritis and 37 healthy children (group 3) were included the study. These groups were compared in terms of their strain index values. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed with a single transducer at 1.8-6.2 MHz frequency range.

Results: Both group 1 and 2 had significantly higher strain index values compared to the control group (2.7, 2.2 and 1.4 respectively). Additionally, the mean strain index value was significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2.

Conclusion: Transabdominal ultrasound elastography has diagnostic value in differentiating Helicobacter pylori (+) gastritis from Helicobacter pylori (-) gastritis as well as in the diagnosis of gastritis in children.

Several studies have shown that ultrasound guidance may contribute to improved safety, effectiveness and accuracy of musculoskeletal interventional procedures performed around the hip if compared to those performed with a landmark-guided technique. Different approaches and injectates can be used for treating hip musculoskeletal disorders. These procedures may involve injections in the hip joint, periarticular bursae, tendons, and peripheral nerves. Intra-articular hip injections are mostly used as a conservative approach for treating patients affected by hip osteoarthritis. Ultrasound-guided injection of the iliopsoas bursa is performed in patients with bursitis and/or tendinopathy, to treat those with painful prosthesis due to iliopsoas impingement, or when the lidocaine test is indicated to identify the iliopsoas as a source of pain. Ultrasound-guided interventions are routinely used in patients with greater trochanteric pain syndrome having as target the gluteus medius/minimus tendons and/or the trochanteric bursae. Ultrasound-guided fenestration and platelet-rich plasma injection are applied in patients with hamstring tendinopathy with good clinical outcomes. Last but not least, ultrasound-guided perineural injections can be used for peripheral neuropathies or blocks of the sciatic, lateral femoral cutaneous, and pudendal nerves. In this paper, we discuss the evidence and technical tips for musculoskeletal interventional procedures performed around the hip, highlighting the added value of ultrasound as an imaging guidance modality.

Bowel pathologies encompass a large diversity of diseases with commonly confusing and overlapping clinical presentations. Sonography has a leading role in diagnosing these disorders, especially in small children. However, in some cases, baseline sonography does not deliver a satisfactory result on the suspected pathology. To increase the sensitivity and specificity of the standard bowel ultrasound technique, complimentary ultrasound enema may be performed, which is also referred to as "hydrocolon" in the literature. This paper summarizes the technique of sonographic enema, as well as some bowel pathologies from our case series where sonographic enema proved to be helpful in the diagnostic work-up.

Aim of the study: Pulmonary cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic infection transmitted by dogs and occurring in livestock-raising areas. It is included among the neglected tropical diseases, according to the World Health Organization. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of this disease. While cross-sectional imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are preferred, lung ultrasound may be another feasible technique.

Case description: We report a case of pulmonary cystic echinococcosis in a 26-year-old woman who was examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, which showed marked annular enhancement around the hydatid cyst, mimicking a superinfected cyst.

Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination in pulmonary cystic echinococcosis should be studied in a larger population to determine the value of additional contrast administration. In the present case report, no superinfected echinococcal cyst was seen despite marked annular contrast enhancement.

Aim: The accuracy of ultrasound findings in predicting the incidence of morbidly adherent placenta has been evaluated previously. In this study, we assessed the sensitivity and specificity of different quantitative findings of color Doppler and grayscale ultrasonography in predicting morbidly adherent placenta.

Material and methods: In this prospective cohort study, all pregnant women over 20 weeks of gestational age with anterior placenta and a history of previous cesarean section were evaluated for inclusion. Various ultrasound findings were measured. The non-parametric receiver operating characteristic curves, the area under the curve, and the cut-off values were assessed.

Results: A total of 120 patients were ultimately included for analysis, of whom 15 had morbidly adherent placenta. The two groups were significantly different regarding the number of vessels. Based on color Doppler ultrasonography, in predicting the morbidly adherent placenta, more than two intraplecental echolucent zones with color flow had 93% and 98% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. According to grayscale ultrasonography, more than thirteen intraplacental echolucent zones had the sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 80% in predicting morbidly adherent placenta, respectively. Echolucent zone >11 mm at non-fetal surface had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 66% in detecting morbidly adherent placenta.

Conclusions: According to the results, the quantitative findings of color Doppler ultrasound have considerable sensitivity and specificity in detecting morbidly adherent placenta. More than two echolucent zones with color flow are recommended as the main diagnostic parameter indicating the presence of morbidly adherent placenta with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 98%.

Renal cell carcinoma is a common disease, and clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common histological type. Renal cell carcinoma has a tendency to infiltrate the venous system including the inferior vena cava and the right atrium of the heart. We present the cases of two patients with renal cell carcinoma with stage IV tumor thrombus according to the Mayo classification, who underwent surgery under transesophageal echocardiography guidance. Apart from standard imaging methods used in renal cancer with tumor thrombus reaching the right atrium of the heart, we consider transesophageal echocardiography to be a very useful tool in the diagnostic work-up, patient monitoring, and selection of appropriate surgical technique.

Aim: In this prospective study, the efficiency of imaging findings was investigated by comparing the histopathological results of lymph nodes with Doppler and ultrasound features and elasticity scores.

Material and method: A total of 100 cervical or axillary lymph nodes with a suspected malignancy or whose size did not decrease after treatment were examined. In addition to the demographic data of the patients, B-mode ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, and elastography features of the lymph nodes were evaluated prospectively. The irregular shape, increased size, pronounced hypoechogenicity, presence of micro/macro calcification, short axis/long axis ratio >2, increased size of the short axis, increased cortex thickness, obliterated hilus or increased cortex thickness >3.5 mm were evaluated on ultrasound. Resistivity index, pulsatility index, acceleration rate and time were evaluated for intranodal arterial structures on color. Doppler ultrasound, strain ratio value and elasticity score were recorded on ultrasound elastography. After sonographic examination, patients underwent ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology or tru-cutting needle biopsy. Histopathological examination results of the patients were compared with the B-mode ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, and ultrasound elastography.

Results: When the individual and combined effects of the ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, and ultrasound elastography were evaluated, the combination of all three imaging methods was found to have the highest sensitivity and the highest overall accuracy (90.4% and 73.9%). As an individual method Doppler ultrasound had the highest specificity (77.8%). B-mode ultrasound was found to have the lowest accuracy (56.7%) both in individual and combined evaluations.

Conclusion: Addition of ultrasound elastography to the combination of B-mode and Doppler ultrasound findings increases diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy in the differentiation of benign and malignant lymph nodes.