New frontiers in liver ultrasound: From mono to multi parametricity

Modern liver ultrasonography (US) has become a “one-stop shop” able to provide not only anatomic and morphologic but also functional information about vascularity, stiffness and other various liver tissue properties. Modern US techniques allow a quantitative assessment of various liver diseases. US scanning is no more limited to the visualized plane, but three-dimensional, volumetric acquisition and consequent post-processing are also possible. Further, US scan can be consistently merged and visualized in real time with Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations. Effective and safe microbubble-based contrast agents allow a real time, dynamic study of contrast kinetic for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Ultrasound can be used to guide loco-regional treatment of liver malignancies and to assess tumoral response either to interventional procedures or medical therapies. Microbubbles may also carry and deliver drugs under ultrasound exposure. US plays a crucial role in diagnosing, treating and monitoring focal and diffuse liver disease. On the basis of personal experience and literature data, this paper is aimed to review the main topics involving recent advances in the field of liver ultrasound.     

Ultrasound and Clinical Characteristics of False-negative Results in Mammography Screening of Dense Breasts

ObjectiveWe analyzed the clinical and ultrasound characteristics associated with false-negative mammography results in women with dense breasts.Materials and MethodsThe present study included 191 women (mean age, 54.47 ± 11.61 years; range, 31-75 years) who had presented from July 2015 to June 2018 with pathologically confirmed breast cancer. The mammography, conventional ultrasound, and elastography imaging results of these patients were reviewed. Breast density and screening cancer probability from mammography and conventional ultrasound imaging were scored using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors independently associated with the false-negative results on breast mammographic screening.ResultsOf 191 confirmed breast cancer cases, 55 (28.8%) were assigned to category ≤ 3, and 136 (71.2%) were assigned to category ≥ 4a according to the mammography findings. All the breasts were graded mammographically as dense. A rougher margin (odds ratio [OR], 8.123; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.731-38.127) was the strongest independent factor associated with negative results, followed by a lower stiffness ratio (OR, 7.773; 95% CI, 2.574-23.473), negative axillary lymph node status (OR, 5.066; 95% CI, 1.028-24.955), and softer lesions (OR, 1.037; 95% CI, 1.001-1.075).ConclusionWomen with dense breasts, a lower lesion/glandular tissue stiffness ratio, and softer cancer can easily lead to a misdiagnosis using mammography. By giving sufficient attention to the margin, earlier stage cancer with negative lymph node status are more likely to benefit from supplemental ultrasound imaging.     

Enhanced diagnosis of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in individuals with NAFLD using FibroScan-based Agile scores

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Nomenclature Dilemma of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD): Considerable Proportions of MAFLD Are Metabolic Healthy

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Two-Step Strategy,FIB-4 Followed by Magnetic Resonance Elastography,for Detecting Advanced Fibrosis in NAFLD

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超声弹性成像诊断亚急性甲状腺炎的价值分析

目的探讨亚急性甲状腺炎（SAT）在彩色多普勒超声、超声弹性成像上的声像图特征，及二者在临床的应用价值。方法对临床确诊的SAT住院患者22例的超声图像进行回顾性分析总结，观察比较SAT彩色多普勒超声与超声弹性成像特征。结果22例共47个病灶中，17例共39个病灶二维声像图表现为病灶区局限性或弥漫性从外至内渐进性减低，似地图样、泼墨样和蟹足样，无球体感及占位效应感，无包膜；5例共8个病灶表现为无回声区；CDFI显示35个病灶区周边点线状较丰富血流信号；28个病灶区内未见明显血流信号，19个病灶内可见少许血流信号。12例共29个SAT早期病灶超声弹性成像示：18个病灶弹性分级评为Ⅲ级，11个病灶弹性分级评为Ⅳ级，病灶弹性渲染以蓝色为主；弹性图显示的病灶面积大于二维超声显示的病灶面积，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论SAT在彩色多普勒超声以及超声弹性图像上均具有一定的特征性表现，可为临床诊断和治疗提供可信的依据。