Ultrasound Quarterly最新文献

Abstract: In lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), thrombus age is essential for successful treatment. The aim of our study was to compare the shear wave elastography (SWE) values measured before treatment and achieved lumen patency after treatment in lower-extremity DVT patients with total occlusion. Patients diagnosed with DVT in the acute-subacute stage (<4 week) with total thrombosis in lower extremity were included in this prospective study. Shear wave elastography measurements were performed where the thrombus was most prominent and homogeneous. To evaluate patient response to treatment, lumen patency (partial [>25%] or total recanalization) was examined using color Doppler imaging in the first and third months posttreatment. Shear wave elastography values with and without patency were compared using an independent t test. Among 75 patients in this study, at the first-month color Doppler imaging examination, the SWE values were 1.77 ± 0.49 (1.09-3.03) m/s in patients who achieved lumen patency (n = 42) and 2.21 ± 0.54 (1.24-3.36) m/s in those who did not show lumen patency (n = 33). The difference between the groups' mean elastography value was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). At the third-month examination, the SWE values were 1.76 ± 0.46 (1.09-3.03) m/s in patients with lumen patency (n = 55) and 2.52 ± 0.48 (1.74-3.36) in patients without lumen patency (n = 20). The difference between the 2 groups' mean elastography value was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). We concluded that it is more difficult to achieve lumen patency in veins occluded by thrombus with higher elasto values, and endovascular interventional procedures should be considered during the initial treatment of high SWE value thrombosis.

Abstract: The aims of this study were to evaluate the kidneys of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) noninvasively and quantitatively using 2-D shear wave elastography (SWE) and to reveal the diagnostic efficacy of SWE in FMF-induced renal involvement. Healthy controls, FMF patients, and FMF patients with proteinuria were included in the study, and differences in renal stiffness values between the groups were examined. In addition, a relationship between age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, glomerular filtration rate, and renal stiffness values was evaluated. A total of 120 subjects, including 60 controls, 41 FMF patients without proteinuria, and 19 FMF patients with proteinuria, were enrolled in the study. Renal stiffness values were found to be significantly higher in the group with FMF compared with the control group. In addition, the values in the proteinuria group were higher than both the control group and FMF patients without proteinuria ( P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the renal stiffness value and C-reactive protein. According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, the mean renal stiffness value was 7.905 kPa or greater to determine FMF-induced proteinuria. The current study shows that renal stiffness values were higher in FMF patients compared with the normal population and the values showed further increase in the presence of proteinuria, which indicates a more advanced stage of renal involvement of the disease. These findings reveal that SWE can be used as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in the diagnosis, follow-up, and evaluating the severity of FMF.

Abstract: This study is an analysis of fetal lung stiffness by virtual touch tissue quantification (VTTQ) elastography to predict fetal lung maturation. Evaluation of fetal lungs was first performed in B mode, and fetal lungs were analyzed at 3 different periods at third trimester in each pregnant woman, at 28 to 31, 32 to 36, and 37 to 41 weeks. Fetal lung elastography was performed at regions with the least acoustic shadow and far from ribs and heart. Each fetal lung assessment were done by taking mean lung stiffness obtained by measuring stiffness of both left and right fetal lungs. T test analysis showed no significant difference in fetal lung stiffness between male and female fetuses among 3 gestational periods. Analysis of variance was performed to evaluate fetal lung stiffness of the fetuses at 3 different gestational periods (28-31, 32-36, and 37-41 weeks). This analysis showed significant difference ( P < 0.01). Duncan multiple comparison analysis did not show significant difference in fetal lung stiffness between 28 and 31 weeks and 32 and 36 weeks, whereas fetal lung stiffness of fetuses at 37 to 41 weeks were significantly greater ( P < 0.01). This study is first step to analyze fetal lung maturation noninvasively using VTTQ elastography technique by measuring fetal lung stiffness.

Abstract: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the possible damage to the male reproductive system that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus causes by quantitatively measuring and comparing the tissue stiffness of the testis and epididymis with acoustic radiation force impulse sonoelastography in patients who have COVID-19 with a healthy control group. This prospective study was conducted between February and July 2021 with 65 cases. We used sonoelastography to evaluate male patients 18 years or older, who had applied to the urology clinic with nontesticular complaints, and were found to not have any underlying testicular pathology after a clinical-laboratory evaluation. The clinical-laboratory imaging findings and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were reviewed from the hospital database. We measured the shear wave velocity values of the epididymis and the testes of 31 proven severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 patients and 34 healthy subjects and compared them with an independent t test. For the patient and control group subjects, the mean age was 37.55 ± 13.08 (23-71) and 40.5 ± 16.25 (18-81) years, respectively. The mean shear wave velocity values of the left-right and bilateral testes and epididymis of the patient group were statistically substantially higher ( P ˂ 0.05) than in the control group. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, when the cutoff values for the bilateral testes and epididymis were determined as 1.39 and 1.64 m/s, respectively, the AUC was 77% to 73.4%, the sensitivity was 87% to 74%, and the specificity was 65% to 62%. Our findings show that testicular and epididymal tissue stiffness increased in patients with COVID-19. We recommend adding sonoelastography to urogenital examinations of male reproductive system in patients who are recovering from COVID-19.

Abstract: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease and an important health problem in countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey. In this study, we aimed to evaluate possible tissue stiffness changes that may develop in the liver and spleen in adult FMF patients with shear wave elastography (SWE), and its usability as an auxiliary imaging method that will be able to provide additional advantage in clinical follow-up. Seventy-five adult FMF patients and 73 adult volunteer were included in the study. Examination was performed through an intercostal space where the liver and spleen were clearly visible. The parenchymal stiffness degrees of the liver and spleen were quantified by shear modulus values in kilopascals. Differences in stiffness values of the liver and spleen between the 2 groups were examined. Liver stiffness value (LSV) was found to be statistically significantly higher in the FMF group. Although the spleen stiffness value (SSV) was found higher in the FMF group, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Increased LSVs in patients with FMF can be quantitatively demonstrated by the 2-dimensional SWE method, and SWE may be useful as an auxiliary imaging method in the follow-up of patients with FMF for this purpose. The LSV and SSV obtained in this study may be useful as reference stiffness values for both healthy individuals and those with FMF.

Abstract: In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to detect active hemorrhage in patients presenting with soft-tissue hematomas. Adult patients with clinically suspected, actively bleeding hematomas were prospectively enrolled. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to assess for contrast extravasation. Ultrasound results were compared with those of multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) imaging, operative findings, and clinical course. Sixteen patients (9 women, 7 men; mean age, 69 [SD, 13] years) were enrolled. Thirteen patients underwent MDCT imaging during their initial visit, and for 11, CEUS and computed tomography (CT) findings were concordant. The remaining patients had a negative CEUS study that was consistent with their clinical course. In 8 patients, CT imaging showed active extravasation (6 arterial, 1 indeterminate, 1 slow venous). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and CT findings were concordant for all cases of arterial bleeding. For 1 patient, CEUS provided superior diagnostic information by identifying a pseudoaneurysm. The 2 discrepant patient cases had a ≥3-hour delay between CT and CEUS, and in 1 patient, CEUS was limited by body habitus. The second patient had no active bleeding identified in the operating room. Compared with CT, CEUS had a sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 100%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 71%, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was 85% in this limited study. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a promising alternative to MDCT in select patients and may sometimes provide superior clinical information. Limiting factors are large hematoma size, unfavorable anatomic location, and body habitus.

Abstract: We aimed to plot the growth curve of the fetal clavicle, identify gestational date-independent parameters. Using 2-dimensional ultrasonography, we obtained the clavicle lengths (CLs) from 601 normal fetuses between 12 and 40 gestational age (GA). The CL/fetal growth parameters ratio was calculated. Moreover, 27 cases of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and 9 cases of small for GA (SGA) were detected. In normal fetuses, the mean CL (mm) = -68.2 + 29.80 × ln(GA) ± Z × (1.07 + 0.02 × GA). A linear relationship was detected between CL and head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference and femoral length with R2 values of 0.973, 0.970, 0.962, and 0.972, respectively. The CL/HC ratio (mean value 0.130) showed no significant correlation with GA. Clavicle lengths in the FGR group significantly decreased compared with the SGA group ( P < 0.01). This study determined a reference range of fetal CL in a Chinese population. Furthermore, the CL/HC ratio, which is independent of GA, is a novel parameter for the evaluation of the fetal clavicle.

Abstract: The shear wave dispersion (SWD) slope has become available in the clinical practice and is related to tissue viscosity. However, clinical evaluation using SWD was not yet performed for obstructive jaundice. We aimed to evaluate the change of SWD values between before and after biliary drainage in patients with obstructive jaundice. This prospective observational cohort study evaluated 20 patients with obstructive jaundice who underwent biliary drainage. The SWD and liver elasticity values were measured before versus after biliary drainage, comparing between days -5 and 0 (day 0), days 1 and 3 (day 2), and days 6 and 8 (day 7). The mean ± SD values of SWD measured at day 0, day 2, and day 7 were 15.3 ± 2.7, 14.2 ± 3.3, and 13.3 ± 2.4 m/s/kHz, respectively. Dispersion slope values were decreased significantly from day 0 to day 2, from day 2 to day 7, and from day 0 to day 7 ( P < 0.05). Liver elasticity levels and serum hepatobiliary enzymes were additionally decreased significantly over time after biliary drainage. The correlations between SWD and liver elasticity values were strong ( r = 0.91, P < 0.01). In conclusion, t he SWD values decreased significantly over time after biliary drainage concomitant with liver elasticity.

Abstract: Endometrial injury is associated with poorer pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the detection of endometrial injury. This study included women who underwent CEUS of the uterus at the author's hospital between April 2020 and January 2021. The diagnostic performances of the CEUS-derived parameters in the detection of severe endometrial injury were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. The study included 67 participants (healthy control, n = 14; mild endometrial injury, n = 24; severe endometrial injury, n = 29). Enhancement intensity (EI) and area under the time-intensity curve (AUC TIC ) were significantly lower in the severe endometrial injury patients than healthy and mild endometrial injury subjects for both endometrial and subendometrial regions ( P < 0.05). Correlations analysis showed that EI and AUC TIC were positively correlated with endometrial thickness ( r = 0.460, P = 0.01, and r = 0.555, P < 0.01, respectively) and subendometrial thickness ( r = 0.501, P < 0.01, and r = 0.438, P = 0.01, respectively). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.720 ( P = 0.002), 79.31%, and 66.67% for endometrial EI; 0.818 ( P < 0.001), 75.86%, and 79.17% for subendometrial EI; 0.917 ( P < 0.001), 72.41%, and 95.83% for endometrial AUC TIC ; and 0.810 ( P < 0.001), 89.66%, and 70.83% for subendometrial AUC TIC , respectively. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may have clinical utility in the prediction of endometrial injury in women of childbearing age.

Abstract: This article reviews the ultrasound evaluation and staging of breast cancer with respect to the involvement of interpectoral (Rotter) lymph nodes. The primary objective is to demonstrate and assess the characteristic sonographic findings of interpectoral (Rotter) lymph nodes to help provide accurate nodal staging information. We aim to provide a comprehensive review and serve as an imaging guide for the identification and evaluation of Rotter lymph nodes. The detection of abnormalities and pathologic features of metastatic axillary nodal disease in the interpectoral region is reviewed, and the impact on clinical management and treatment is discussed. In the radiology literature, there is no comprehensive review of the sonographic appearance and evaluation of Rotter lymph nodes.