Sonography of the Scrotum

In this pictorial essay, we review and discuss the varying morphologic characteristics of scrotal appendages and calculi. Characteristic sonograms obtained from patients with coexisting hydrocele are presented, and recent literature is included. Hydrocele greatly facilitates the imaging of these intrascrotal structures, as it acts as a “water path”. On the one hand, torsion of a scrotal appendage should always be included in the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum, especially in children. On the other hand, scrotolithiasis may occasionally cause mild discomfort. As a consequence, and given the widespread use of sonography for the evaluation of both acute and chronic conditions of the scrotum, radiologists should be familiar with these entities.     

Prenatal Sonographic Diagnosis of Premature Constriction of the Fetal Ductus Arteriosus After Maternal Self‐Medication With Benzydamine Hydrochloride

We report 3 cases of prenatal diagnosis of premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus after maternal benzydamine hydrochloride therapy (3‐mg lozenges) in third‐trimester pregnancies. In each case, fetal echocardiography revealed a dilated, hypocontractile right ventricle with severe tricuspid regurgitation and constriction of the ductus arteriosus. Although the effect of indomethacin and other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs on prenatal ductal constriction is well known, readily available over‐the‐counter nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs such as benzydamine can have an equally deleterious effect and are best avoided in the third trimester of pregnancy.     

Hepatic Angiomyolipomas: Ultrasonic Characteristics of 25 Patients from a Single Center

Twenty-five pathologically proven hepatic angiomyolipomas (AMLs) were included in the study. Ultrasonic features of hepatic AMLs were reviewed. Three types of echogenicity were observed on ultrasound examination: (i) strong hyper-echogenicity, (ii) moderate hyper-echogenicity and (iii) hypo-echogenicity. Vascular signals within tumors could be detected in 22 (88.00%) tumors as multiple punctiform, filiform or dendriform signals by color Doppler flow imaging. Based on the enhancement patterns in the arterial, portal and late phases, the features of hepatic AMLs on contrast-enhanced ultrasound were divided into four subtypes: (i) “fast in slow out” (68.00%, n = 17); (ii) “fast in same out” (16%, n = 4); (iii) “fast in fast out” (12.00%, n = 3); and (iv) “fast in uneven out” (4.00%, n = 1). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnosed 22 (88.00%) tumors as benign tumors and 13 (52.00%) as hepatic AMLs. Four cases were misdiagnosed as hepatic hemangioma, five cases as focal nodular hyperplasia (total = 36.00%). The rate of correct diagnosis of hepatic AMLs increased significantly from 24.00% for ultrasound alone to 52.00% for contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Therefore, information obtained from ultrasound, color Doppler flow imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound should be combined to improve diagnosis.     

超声造影对肝脏局灶性脂肪浸润或缺失的诊断价值

目的探讨CEUS对肝脏局灶性脂肪浸润或缺失的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析76例肝脏局灶性脂肪浸润或缺失病例,其中3例经病理学证实,73例经增强CT/增强MRI确诊并随访6个月以上。所有病例均接受常规二维超声及CEUS检查。结果 76例病例中,71例(71/76,93.42%)表现为动脉期、门静脉期及实质期三期等增强,4例(4/76,5.26%)表现为动脉期轻度高增强、门静脉期及实质期等增强,1例(1/76,1.32%)类似肝癌的动脉期高增强、门静脉期及实质期低增强。CEUS诊断局灶性脂肪浸润或缺失与病理或其他检查随访结果的差异无统计学意义(P=0.0625),二者具有相关性(r=0.65,P<0.001)。二维声像图上三期等增强组与动脉期高增强组病灶回声、边界和形态的差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。结论 CEUS对局灶性脂肪浸润或缺失的诊断具有较高的准确率。     

高频超声在全身麻醉诱导期胃进气检测中的临床应用

目的探讨实时高频超声监测在全身麻醉诱导期胃进气检测中的临床应用价值。方法接受全身麻醉下择期手术患者80例,随机分为4组(P10、P15、P20、P25),使用丙泊酚、芬太尼、顺阿曲库铵麻醉诱导后分别进行面罩压力控制通气,通气气道峰压分别设置为10、15、20、25cm H2O,于肌松药推注完毕后45、90、135、180s及气管插管后5min记录患者脉搏氧饱和度(SpO2)及潮气量,通气期间采用双盲的方法使用听诊及高频超声检测胃进气的发生率。结果患者潮气量随着气道压力增高而增加,当气道峰压为10、15cm H2O时,潮气量随着肌松药作用时间而逐渐增加,当肌松药完全起效后达到最高,听诊和高频超声在检测胃进气时没有明显区别,但高频超声检测出胃进气的发生率略高;当气道峰压为20、25cm H2O时,潮气量随着肌松药作用刚开始时有增加,但达到一定程度后并不再继续增加,高频超声检测出胃进气阳性率明显比听诊法检测阳性率高。结论使用超声监测有助于发现胃进气,在麻醉诱导期使用气道峰压为15cm H2O的压力控制通气既可保证高质量的面罩通气,又能最大限度地减少胃进气的发生。     

高频超声诊断甲状腺结节的多因素分析及病例对照研究

目的采用高频超声对甲状腺结节的多因素进行诊断分析,并对其病例进行对照研究,为甲状腺结节的准确诊断提供可靠的方法。方法通过整体随机抽样的方法,对某地区的居民进行问卷调查、甲状腺的高频超声和尿碘值的检测;将高频超声检测结果甲状腺结节为阳性的和甲状腺没有病变的群体按照年龄、性别、职业和城乡的区别配比,分为两组,每组400例,对两个组别进行病例对照研究;对研究结果进行单因素和多因素的Logistic回归分析相关的危险因素。结果结合单因素和多因素分析,结果显示甲状腺结节的保护因素和患者的年收入相关,年收入越高的患甲状腺结节的概率越低,有吸烟史的患甲状腺结节的概率越高,检测分析甲状腺结节患病率低的尿碘值一般在100~190μg/L(P0.05)。结论通过高频超声对甲状腺结节的患者进行单一因素和多因素对比分析,结果发现饮食习惯和使用的碘量和甲状腺结节的发生率有一定的相关性,尿碘值的高低也影响着甲状腺结节的发生率。高频超声在诊断甲状腺结节方面起着一定的作用,可以作为临床诊断甲状腺结节推广使用。     

微泡增强多普勒超声技术在锁骨上动脉穿支皮瓣设计中的应用

目的 探讨微泡增强多普勒超声技术(microbubble-enhanced ultrasound,MEUS)在锁骨上动脉穿支皮瓣设计中的应用价值.方法 2009年5月至2013年10月,术前对20例26个皮瓣先采用常规彩色多普勒超声进行血管探查,在此基础上再行MEUS检测定位锁骨上动脉穿支血管,判断并归类锁骨上动脉穿支类型,选取管径粗、流速快、蒂部长、旋转点近的穿支血管设计皮瓣.术后对有无造影剂相关并发症及皮瓣存活情况进行随访.结果 在常规彩超下探测出来自锁骨上动脉的穿支共37条,穿支管径0.5 ～0.8 mm,平均(0.6±0.1) mm;超声造影增强后,穿支血管的血流信号明显提高,探查到48条血管(P＜0.05);同一血管在MEUS下的平均管径为(0.7±0.3) mm,常规彩超下为(0.6±0.1) mm,前者明显高于后者(P＜0.05).MEUS和三维重建结果显示,锁骨上动脉前胸支在65.4％(17/26)的皮瓣中管径大,血流稳定,可以作为穿支皮瓣的优势血管.26个皮瓣术前定位的穿支在术中均获得证实,并有25个采用了术前定位的血管作为血管蒂,1个由于术中发现穿支细、蒂部短而改用扩张的胸廓内动脉穿支皮瓣游离移植.仅有1例发生造影剂相关不良反应,表现为恶心、胃纳差等胃肠道反应,未予治疗,1d后自行好转.术后随访3～16个月,平均8个月,皮瓣色泽、质地良好.结论 锁骨上动脉作为进入皮瓣的终末支血管,存在不同的穿支类型.MEUS作为一项准确、可靠的术前探测手段,可应用于锁骨上动脉穿支的术前定位,以选择优势血管而设计最佳皮瓣,提高手术成功率.