The role of hemodynamics and duplex ultrasound in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease

Recent reports have suggested that duplex ultrasound should replace hemodynamic measurements and the use of the ankle-to-arm systolic blood pressure ratio in evaluating patients with peripheral arterial disease. Measurement of peripheral hemodynamics in patients with peripheral arterial disease is well established and can be used for screening populations at risk for peripheral arterial disease; the finding of an abnormal ankle-to-arm ratio is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. With the ankle-to-arm ratio, the diagnosis of vascular disease can be established in symptomatic patients and initial treatment plans can be formulated. In contrast, duplex ultrasound provides accurate information on vessel morphology and changes in blood-flow velocity in specific areas of stenosis. The test is noninvasive, and in some situations the duplex instrument may be superior to an angiogram in detecting patent distal vessels. Because it is more expensive and time-intensive than measuring peripheral pressures, duplex ultrasound should be used in selected patients in whom the knowledge of actual vessel morphology is critical to the patient's treatment.     

When and how to study the carotid arteries

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To appraise critically the clinical indications for diagnostic evaluation of carotid artery disease and the efficacy, safety, limitations, and relative costs of commonly used noninvasive diagnostic tests. DESIGN: Formal decision analysis to determine the relative value of several diagnostic strategies and information synthesis of studies evaluating noninvasive diagnostic tests. SETTING: We did a secondary analysis of the literature, using available data to generate estimates for the probability of selected, clinically important events and the utilities of relevant outcomes observed in patients when carotid artery disease is present or absent, and we critically appraised studies reported since 1980 to estimate the sensitivity and specificity, safety, limitations, and costs of diagnostic tests. MAIN RESULTS: For patients with asymptomatic neck bruits who are and who are not being considered as candidates for other vascular surgery, no diagnostic testing is recommended. For symptomatic patients with anterior-circulation transient ischemic attacks or previous minor strokes, noninvasive diagnostic testing is recommended if surgical treatment is being considered. Patients who previously had minor strokes could be directly referred for selective carotid angiography because they have a higher likelihood of a surgically approachable carotid lesion. Patients with nonlateralizing signs and symptoms of ischemia do not need diagnostic evaluation of possible carotid artery disease unless their symptoms are related to ischemia in the carotid artery circulation. The preferred noninvasive diagnostic test is duplex ultrasound, which has a sensitivity of approximately 85% and a specificity of 90%. If duplex ultrasound is not available, an alternative noninvasive test is carotid Doppler ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend a conservative diagnostic approach in patients with suspected carotid artery disease. Noninvasive diagnostic testing is indicated only for symptomatic patients with transient ischemic attacks in the anterior circulation who are considered candidates for carotid endarterectomy, when knowledge of the vessel anatomy is necessary.     

Validity of duplex ultrasound as a diagnostic modality for internal carotid artery disease.

There is an increasing trend to rely on duplex ultrasound rather than angiography to measure an internal carotid artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to determine the validity of ultrasound assessment of carotid stenosis performed in community based vascular laboratories. We compared ultrasound with angiography in 225 patients referred to us for carotid intervention. Mild lesions were diagnosed by ultrasound with a sensitivity of 54%, specificity of 89%, and a positive predictive value of 89% compared with angiography. Severe lesions had a sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 67%, and a positive predictive value of 45%. Receiver operator characteristic curves demonstrated the optimal ultrasound cut-off value of 66% stenosis as a predictor of >60% stenosis measured angiographically, is associated with a false positive rate of 38%, and a false negative rate of 9%. Similarly, if a cut-off of 76% on ultrasound is used to predict >70% stenosis measured angiographically, it would be associated with a 29% false positive rate and a false negative rate of 11%. Despite the value of non-invasive testing for carotid disease, duplex ultrasonography performed in non-accredited and some accredited laboratories may produce highly variable results. Using ultrasound as the sole diagnostic test to determine the severity of a carotid stenosis may result in a high number of inappropriate operations and a large proportion of patients who may not be offered treatment due to false negative diagnoses.     

高频超声诊断乳腺肿块的应用性研究

目的探讨高频超声对乳腺肿块的诊断价值。方法收集行乳腺超声检查并经手术病理证实的住院乳腺肿块患者220例作为研究对象,与病理结果对比,分析超声诊断乳腺肿块的准确性。结果220例患者中,高频超声诊断乳腺肿块的敏感性为89．1％,特异性为78．3％,阳性预测值为85．1％,阴性预测值别为83．7％,准确性为84．5％。结论高频超声在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值是肯定的,对临床工作起着重要的辅助诊断作用。     

Diagnostic accuracy of 64 multidetector computed tomographic angiography in peripheral vascular disease

Background: Previous studies of multidetector CT (MDCT) of the lower extremities for the detection of peripheral vascular disease showed high diagnostic accuracy but were performed with older generation systems. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64 MDCT for the detection of hemodynamically significant disease within the lower extremity peripheral vasculature as compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Methods: Twenty‐eight consecutive patients with symptomatic lower extremity intermittent claudication and an abnormal ankle‐brachial index (ABI; less than 0.9) were evaluated by both 64 MDCT and DSA. Axial images were acquired with a 64 multidetector general electric light speed VCT scanner. Images were analyzed using a GE Advantage workstation (AW 4.3) capable of advanced image processing and manipulation. The aorto‐iliac and lower extremity arteries were divided into 15 segments per limb (30 segments per patient). Eight hundred forty segments were analyzed in a blinded fashion by physicians with level III CT certification. Segments were classified as grade I (<10% stenosis), grade II (10–49%), grade III (50–99%), and grade IV (occlusion). Results: For all segments evaluated, the overall diagnostic accuracy for detecting grade III and IV lesions was 98% with a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 98%. For the aorto‐iliac segments, the diagnostic accuracy was 98% with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99%. For the femoro‐popliteal segments, the overall accuracy was 98% with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99%. For the infra‐popliteal segments, the overall accuracy was 98% with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99%. One segment could not be visualized by MDCT compared to 49 segments that could not be visualized by DSA. Conclusions: This study demonstrates excellent diagnostic accuracy of 64 MDCT in the detection of hemodynamically significant disease of the lower extremities. More segments are visualized using 64 MDCT than DSA, allowing more complete visualization of the vascular tree. CT angiography should be considered in the diagnostic evaluation of symptomatic patients with peripheral vascular disease. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

超声与钼靶检查对乳腺疾病良恶性诊断的对比分析

目的系统、定量地评价超声及钼靶成像技术对乳腺疾病的诊断准确性及诊断特点,为乳腺疾病选择影像学检查提供有价值的指导。方法分析228例患者237个乳腺结节彩色多普勒超声及钼靶声像学特征,以病理组织结果为金标准,评价多普勒超声、钼靶以及两者联合对乳腺疾病良恶性诊断价值。结果本组病理检查结果良性188例（194个结节）,恶性40例（43个结节）;彩色多普勒超声诊断恶性病变灵敏度为46.5%,特异度为80.4%,正确率为74.2%;X线钼靶诊断乳腺恶性肿瘤的灵敏度为55.8%,特异度为75.2%,正确率为71.7%;两者结合诊断乳腺恶性肿瘤灵敏度为90.6%,特异度为89.6%,正确率为89.8%。结论多普勒超声及钼靶检查对乳腺肿块定性诊断均有较高价值,两者结合可提高鉴别乳腺肿瘤良恶性正确率,在临床诊断及制定治疗方案上有重要的指导价值。     

Differentiation of cystic pancreatic neoplasms and pseudocysts by conventional and echo-enhanced ultrasound

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Echo-enhanced sonography is a non-invasive and increasingly used procedure for the differentiation of pancreatic tumors. However, the diagnostic accuracy of this procedure compared to conventional ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic neoplasms from pseudocysts has never been investigated in a prospective study. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with a cystic pancreatic lesion at the conventional ultrasound (mean age 57 years, range 36-82 years) were included in the study. Sonography was performed by an experienced examiner who was unaware of the patients' clinical diagnosis. The exact diagnosis was based on histological evidence from biopsy examination (surgical or transabdominal fine needle biopsy for all cystic neoplasms and five pseudocysts), or a follow-up of at least 18 months (four pseudocysts). RESULTS: Of the 31 patients, 19 had cystadenomas, three had cystadenocarcinomas, and nine had pseudocysts. Only 27% of the cystadenomas and 67% of the pseudocysts could be correctly classified by conventional ultrasound. Conversely, 95% of the cystadenomas (P = 0.0001) and all pseudocysts were diagnosed correctly by echo-enhanced sonography. The sensitivity of echo-enhanced sonography with respect to diagnosing cystadenoma was 95% and its specificity was 92%. The corresponding values for pseudocysts were both 100%. CONCLUSION: Echo-enhanced sonography has a high sensitivity and specificity in the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic tumors. With this procedure the differentiation of cystadenomas and pseudocysts can be improved. However, histology is the standard of reference.     

Renovascular disease in patients with hypertension: detection with duplex ultrasound

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of duplex ultrasound for the diagnosis of renovascular disease in a cohort of hypertensive patients. In 78 patients suspected of renovascular hypertension on clinical grounds duplex ultrasound examination of the renal arteries was performed. Renal angiography was used as the standard of reference. Duplex ultrasound was inconclusive in 11 kidneys (7%). None of the supernumerary renal arteries was detected with duplex ultrasound. The overall prevalence of significant renovascular disease (> or =50% stenosis) was 20%. Based on the combination of parameters at thresholds commonly applied in current literature: ie PSV(max) >180 cm/sec and RAR >3.5 the overall sensitivity of duplex ultrasound for detection of haemodynamically significant renovascular disease was 50.0% with a specificity of 91.3% (PPV: 87.9%; NPV: 59.1). Lowering the thresholds for both parameters improved the test results at the cost of a significant increase of false positive examinations. In a population of hypertensive patients clinically suspected of renovascular hypertension, only limited results for duplex ultrasound could be acquired in the detection of renovascular disease. This result, in combination with the wide range of sensitivities and specificities published in international literature and the relatively large number of incomplete examinations does not support the general application of duplex ultrasound as a screening procedure for detection and assessment of renovascular disease.     

Color‐coded duplex ultrasound for diagnosis of renal artery stenosis and as follow‐up examination after revascularization

Currently, angiography is still considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of a renal artery stenosis (RAS). However, angiography is invasive and carries the potential risk of haematoma, pseudoaneurysm, contrast agent induced nephropathy, and athermanous embolization. Color‐coded duplex ultrasound is a noninvasive frequently repeatable bed‐side examination and is currently the only diagnostic method to reliably differentiate between a hemodynamically relevant or irrelevant stenosis using the side‐to‐side difference of the intrarenal resistance index (RI). There is a highly specific correlation between a side difference of the RI of >0.05 and an at least 70% angiographic diameter stenosis. All other duplex parameters like a peak systolic flow velocity >200 cm/sec or a renal aortic flow velocity ratio >3.5 are correlated to a 50 or 60% angiographic diameter stenosis and offer therefore indeed a high sensitivity in terms of detecting a RAS; however, the specificity detecting a hemodynamically relevant RAS is low. Provided that duplex ultrasound is performed by an experienced physician with an adequate machine it should be the preferred imaging method. The present article gives an overview about the literature related to duplex based diagnosis of RAS and as a follow‐up diagnostic procedure following RAS revascularization. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Value of imprint cytology for ultrasound-guided transthoracic core biopsy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible additional diagnostic information provided by imprint cytology when performing ultrasound-guided transthoracic core biopsy and to evaluate whether it could optimise the biopsy procedure. A total of 155 transthoracic core biopsies with touch imprint smears were performed under ultrasound guidance, with 127 malignant and 28 benign lesions. The imprint smears were stained using Riu's method and interpreted by a cytopathologist. These were compared with the histopathology of core biopsy specimens and the final diagnosis of malignant versus benign disease. The overall diagnostic accuracy of imprint cytology was 94% (146 out of 155). Histopathological analysis showed an overall accuracy of 94% (146 out of 155), with a sensitivity of 94% (119 out of 127) and negative predictive value of 79% (27 out of 34). The combination of these two methodologies had an increased overall accuracy and negative predictive value of 98% (152 out of 155) and 90% (28 out of 31), respectively. The results of imprint cytology and histopathology were in agreement in 143 patients (92%). In conclusion, imprint cytology of ultrasound-guided transthoracic core biopsy is a sensitive procedure for diagnosing peripheral thoracic lesions, and it may increase the diagnostic accuracy and cancer negative prediction of biopsy alone. With an on-site approach, imprint cytology may help to assess the adequacy of biopsy specimens and optimise the biopsy procedure.     

Duplex Doppler ultrasound of the ligamentum teres and portal vein: A clinically useful adjunct in the evaluation of patients with known or suspected chronic liver disease or portal hypertension

The prevalence and potential value of the detection of signs of portal hypertension by duplex Doppler ultrasound (DDU) of the ligamentum teres and portal vein in patients with known or suspected chronic liver disease and/or portal hypertension was studied in 136 consecutive patients undergoing clinical assessment including that of liver histopathology. Portal hypertension was considered to be present when any of the following DDU signs, previously demonstrated to be specific for portal hypertension, were present: an enlarged and/or patent para-umbilical vein, portal vein obstruction or hepatofugal flow in the portal vein. Of 123 patients with parenchymal liver disease, eighty-three had cirrhosis and, of these, portal hypertension was detected on DDU criteria in 86% of alcoholic cirrhotics and 67% of non-alcoholic cirrhotics. Of the 42 patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease, 1 of 7 patients with metastatic liver disease and 3 of 5 patients with alcoholic hepatitis had DDU signs of portal hypertension. Thus, in patients with parenchymal liver disease, DDU had a sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 90% and predictive values of 94 and 62% for positive and negative studies respectively for the detection of cirrhosis. In all 14 patients with portal hypertension secondary to vascular occlusive diseases, DDU examination of the ligamentum teres, portal vein and hepatic vein gave an accurate guide to the site of the occluding lesion. The high positive predictive value of DDU and its ability to aid in localizing the site of increased resistance to flow through the liver suggest that DDU of the ligamentum teres and portal vein is a potentially useful non-invasive adjunct in the assessment of patients with suspected or known liver disease or portal hypertension.     

Peripheral atherosclerosis evaluation through ultrasound: A promising diagnostic tool for coronary artery disease

Effective treatment, but also proper diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, remains a major challenge in everyday practice. A quick, safe, and economically acceptable non-invasive procedure should play a leading role in cardiovascular risk assessment before invasive diagnostics is performed. The staging of subclinical atherosclerosis may help in further clinical decisions. Safe, widely available, and relatively inexpensive, ultrasonography is a promising examination that should find wider application in clinical practice. The latest ESC guidelines emphasize the usefulness of carotid ultrasound in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and subclinical assessment of atherosclerosis, which help to determine the level of cardiovascular risk. Ultrasound examination of peripheral arteries, especially superficial vessels such as the femoral arteries, is quite easy, quick, and accurate. Other vascular beds, such as iliac and renal, are more demanding to examine, but can also provide valuable information. This review summarizes important studies comparing the severity of atherosclerosis in ultrasound-visible vascular beds in patients with established CAD. We especially emphasize the benefits of the combined assessment of atherosclerosis features, which were characterized by high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of CAD and other serious cardiovascular diseases.     

A fast arterial duplex ultrasound performed by vascular surgeons. Is the time now?

BACKGROUND: With the technologic advancement in vascular ultrasound imaging, surgeons are now encouraged to perform their own examinations. Vascular surgeons run the vascular laboratory in the Suez Canal University hospital. The aim of this study is to determine the efficiency and advantages of arterial duplex scanning performed by the surgeon. METHODS: A prospective comparative study between the results of color duplex (performed by a vascular surgeon), arteriogram and operative finding in 105 limbs (96 lower and 9 upper) from 63 patients, with chronic arterial occlusive disease or of peripheral arterial emergencies, was performed. The arterial vessels were divided into 13 segments. RESULTS: A total of 858 segments were examined. Duplex scanning was able to detect significant disease with a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 100%, positive predictive index 100%, negative predicative index 93%, accuracy 95% and k value of 0.85. Accuracy for the final therapeutic decision was 83% in arteriography, 80% in duplex and in a combination of both was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon performed duplex is reliable and should be an integral part of the vascular surgeon's practice. Our practice recommends performing arteriography additionally in the lower limb to maximise preoperative information.     

动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄临床特点分析及诊断方法比较

目的 分析动脉粥样硬化性肾动脉狭窄（ARAS）的临床特征及探讨经肾动脉超声和计算机断层扫描造影（CTA）诊断ARAS的准确性.方法 纳入2005年1月～2010年10月解放军总医院住院患者中经肾动脉造影确诊为ARAS患者179例（肾动脉狭窄＞50%）,对其临床表现进行回顾性分析,并比较肾动脉超声及肾动脉CT造影（CTA）与肾动脉造影结果的差异.结果 179例ARAS患者中,有74例（41.34%）表现为难以控制的高血压,96例（53.63%）伴胸痛,6例（3.35%）出现急性肺水肿,102例（57%）伴肾损害.其中124例ARAS患者同时进行了肾动脉超声检查,结果显示肾血流速度＞171cm/s时有最大受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）下面积,此时肾动脉超声的敏感性和特异性分别为86%和75%;另有23例（46支血管）同时进行了肾动脉CTA检查,肾动脉CTA显示的狭窄血管数多于肾动脉造影[32支（69.6%） vs.26支（56.5%）],但无统计学差异（P=0.082）.结论 ARAS临床表现多样,其中又以肾损伤、胸痛和高血压最为常见,肾动脉超声诊断ARAS的灵敏度和特异性均较高,而肾动脉CTA较肾动脉造影存在过度诊断的倾向.     

Comparison of effectiveness of hand-carried ultrasound to bedside cardiovascular physical examination

This study compared the accuracy of cardiovascular diagnoses by medical students operating a small hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) device with that of board-certified cardiologists using standard physical examinations. Sixty-one patients (38% women; mean age 70 +/- 19 years) with clinically significant cardiac disease had HCU studies performed by 1 of 2 medical students with 18 hours of training in cardiac ultrasound and physical examinations by 1 of 5 cardiologists. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by standard echocardiography. Two-hundred thirty-nine abnormal findings were detected by standard echocardiography. The students correctly identified 75% (180 of 239) of the pathologies, whereas cardiologists found 49% (116 of 239) (p <0.001). The students' diagnostic specificity of 87% was also greater than cardiologists' specificity of 76% (p <0.001). For nonvalvular pathologies (115 findings), students' sensitivity was 61%, compared with 47% for cardiologists (p = 0.040). There were 124 clinically significant valvular lesions (111 regurgitations, 13 stenoses). Students' and cardiologists' sensitivities for recognizing lesions that cause a systolic murmur were 93% and 62% (p <0.001), respectively. Students' sensitivity for diagnosing lesions that produce a diastolic murmur was 75%; cardiologists recognized 16% of these lesions (p <0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of medical students using an HCU device after brief echocardiographic training to detect valvular disease, left ventricular dysfunction, enlargement, and hypertrophy was superior to that of experienced cardiologists performing cardiac physical examinations.     

Diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis using duplex ultrasound

PURPOSE: To critically evaluate the accuracy, advantages, and drawbacks of duplex ultrasound as a diagnostic test for proximal deep-vein thrombosis. DATA IDENTIFICATION: An English-language search using MEDLINE (1980 to 1988) and bibliographies from articles, and a hand search of pertinent radiology and ultrasound journals from 1988. STUDY SELECTION: All series comparing duplex ultrasound to the reference standard, contrast venography, were reviewed and classified into levels based on the quality of study design. DATA EXTRACTION: Results of duplex ultrasound compared with venography in the proximal deep venous system, technical problems encountered, frequency of diagnosis of other causes of leg swelling, and frequency of unsuccessful or inconclusive studies were collated. RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS: Four well-designed studies reported similar results. The sensitivity of duplex ultrasound in detecting proximal thrombi ranged from 92% to 95% with a combined sensitivity of 93% (CI, 88% to 98%), and the specificity ranged from 97% to 100% with a combined sensitivity of 98% (CI, 96% to 100%). Similar findings were noted in nine other studies that had minor methodologic flaws. Four studies reported that ultrasound was able to identify a nonthrombotic cause of leg swelling in 5% to 15% of cases. Four studies found that duplex ultrasound was inconclusive in 1% to 6% of cases, with a combined frequency of 2%. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex ultrasound appears to be very accurate in the detection of acute proximal deep-vein thrombosis. This test has major advantages as well as certain limitations compared with other diagnostic methods.     

Non-invasive prediction of persistent villous atrophy in celiac disease

BACKGROUND Celiac disease(CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy that is primarily treated with a gluten-free diet(GFD). Mucosal healing is the main target of the therapy. Currently, duodenal biopsy is the only way to evaluate mucosal healing, and noninvasive markers are challenging. Persistent elevation of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies(aTTG) is not an ideal predictor of persistent villous atrophy(VA). Data regarding prediction of atrophy using anti-deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies(aDGP) and abdominal ultrasonography are lacking.AIM To evaluate the ability of aTTG, aDGP, small bowel ultrasonography, and clinical and laboratory parameters in predicting persistent VA determined using histology.METHODS Patients with CD at least 1 year on a GFD and available follow-up duodenal biopsy, levels of aTTG and aDGP, and underwent small bowel ultrasonography were included in this retrospective cohort study. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of aTTG, aDGP, small bowel ultrasonography, laboratory and clinical parameters to predict persistent VA. A receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis of antibody levels was used to calculate cut off values with the highest accuracy for atrophy prediction.RESULTS Complete data were available for 82 patients who were followed up over a period of four years(2014-2018). Among patients included in the analysis, women(67, 81.7%) were predominant and the mean age at diagnosis was 33.8 years. Followup biopsy revealed persistent VA in 19 patients(23.2%). The sensitivity and specificity of aTTG using the manufacturer's diagnostic cutoff value to predict atrophy was 50% and 85.7%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of aDGP(using the diagnostic cutoff value) was 77.8% and 75%, respectively. Calculation of an optimal cutoff value using ROC analysis(13.4 U/mL for aTTG IgA and 22.6 U/mL for aDGP IgA) increased the accuracy and reached 72.2% [95% confidence interval(CI): 46.5-90.3] sensitivity and 90%(95%CI: 79.5-96.2) specificity for aDGP IgA and 66.7%(95%CI: 41.0-86.7) sensitivity and 93.7%(95%CI: 84.5-98.2) specificity for aTTG IgA. The sensitivity and specificity of small bowel ultrasonography was 64.7% and 73.5%, respectively. A combination of serology with ultrasound imaging to predict persistent atrophy increased the positive predictive value and specificity to 88.9% and 98% for aTTG IgA and to 90.0% and 97.8% for aDGP IgA. Laboratory and clinical parameters had poor predictive values.CONCLUSION The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of aTTG and aDGP for predicting persistent VA improved by calculating the best cutoff values. The combination of serology and experienced bowel ultrasound examination may achieve better accuracy for the detection of atrophy.     

Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for pancreatic neoplasms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEarly diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is essential to optimize treatment strategies.ObjectivesTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms.Data sourcesPubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases.Study eligibility criteriaRetrospective or prospective studies.ParticipantsPatients with a confirmed diagnosis of benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms.InterventionContrast-enhanced ultrasound.Study appraisal and synthesisPooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic risk ratio, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals; summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve; a Fagan nomogram.ResultsTen studies involving 641 patients were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 91% (95% CI: 87%, 93%), 87% (95% CI: 78%, 93%), 7.2 (95% CI: 4.3, 12.3), and 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.15), respectively; and the odds ratio for diagnosis was 67 (95% CI: 34, 113). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound had good diagnostic ability and accuracy. Pre- and post-test probability of disease was 50% and 88%, respectively, when the positive likelihood ratio was 7.ConclusionContrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used for qualitative diagnosis of benign and malignant pancreatic neoplasms.Implications of key findingsCEUS should be considered as an important imaging tool for the characterization of pancreatic tumors.Systematic review registration numberCRD42017070434 (PROSPERO).     

Rheumatic tricuspid valve disease: two-dimensional echocardiographic, hemodynamic, and angiographic correlations

From March 1977 through April 1982, 2-dimensional echocardiography detected 372 patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Of these patients, 23 (6%) had tricuspid valve involvement. Two-dimensional echocardiographic criteria of rheumatic tricuspid valve disease included thickened leaflets with restriction in motion, diastolic doming, and encroachment of the leaflet tips on the ventricular inlet. These criteria provided a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 90%, a predictive accuracy of 21%, and a negative predictive value of 100% in diagnosing hemodynamically significant tricuspid stenosis. Hemodynamic variables in patients with rheumatic tricuspid valve disease (Group I) were compared with those in patients with no rheumatic tricuspid disease (Group II). The only significant difference was mean right atrial pressure (15 +/- 7 mm Hg versus 11 +/- 5 mm Hg, p less than 0.02). Both groups were classified into patients with (A) and without (B) significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). There was no significant difference in any hemodynamic variable when Group IA was compared with Group IIA. In addition, there was no difference in any hemodynamic variable when patients with functional TR (Group IIA) were compared with those with rheumatic mitral valvular disease without TR (Group IIB). Two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization provide complementary diagnostic information in these patients.     

Interventional pulmonology: Focus on pulmonary diagnostics

Interventional pulmonology (IP) allows comprehensive assessment of patients with benign and malignant airway, lung parenchymal and pleural disease. This relatively new branch of pulmonary medicine utilizes advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques to treat patients with pulmonary diseases. Endobronchial ultrasound revolutionized assessment of pulmonary nodules, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and lung cancer staging allowing minimally invasive, highly accurate assessment of lung parenchymal and mediastinal disease, with both macro‐ and microscopic tissue characterization including molecular signature analysis. High‐spatial resolution, new endobronchial imaging techniques including autofluorescence bronchoscopy, narrow‐band imaging, optical coherence tomography and confocal microscopy enable detailed evaluation of airways with increasing role in detection and treatment of malignancies arising in central airways. Precision in peripheral lesion localization has been increased through innovative navigational techniques including navigational bronchoscopy and electromagnetic navigation. Pleural diseases can be assessed with the use of non‐invasive pleural ultrasonography, with high sensitivity and specificity for malignant disease detection. Medical pleuroscopy is a minimally invasive technique improving diagnostic safety and precision of pleural disease and pleural effusion assessment. In this review, we discuss the newest advances in diagnostic modalities utilized in IP, indications for their use, their diagnostic accuracy, efficacy, safety and challenges in application of these technologies in assessment of thoracic diseases.