Impact and Predictors of Noncircular Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Shapes on Estimating Aortic Stenosis Severity by Means of Continuity Equations

Determining aortic stenosis (AS) severity is clinically important. Calculating aortic valve (AV) area by means of the continuity equation assumes a circular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The full impact of this assumption in calculating AV area is unknown. Predictors of noncircular LVOT shape in patients with AS are undefined.In 109 adult patients with AS who underwent multiplanar transesophageal echocardiography, we calculated AV area by means of the standard continuity method and by a modified method involving planimetric LVOT area.We found 54 circular, 37 horizontal-oval, 8 vertical-oval, and 10 irregular LVOTs. Area derived by direct planimetry correlated better with the modified than the standard continuity method (r=0.89 vs r=0.85; both P=0.0001). Valve areas of patients with mild, moderate, or severe AS by planimetry were more often mischaracterized with use of the standard than modified method (29 vs 18; P <0.0001). Horizontal-oval AV area derived by planimetry (1.28 ± 0.55 cm²) was underestimated by the standard method (1.05 ± 0.47 cm²; P=0.001), but not by the modified method. Congenital AV morphology and low cardiac index were the only multivariate predictors of horizontal-oval shape. Low cardiac index was the only predictor of noncircular shape.More than half our patients with AS had noncircular LVOTs. Using the modified method reduces mischaracterizations of AS severity. Congenital AV morphology and low cardiac index predict horizontal-oval or noncircular shape. These data suggest the value of direct LVOT measurement to calculate AS severity in patients who have congenital AV or a low cardiac index.     

Factors Affecting Recurrent Deep Vein Thrombosis after Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis and Left Iliac Vein Stent Placement in Patients with Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome

PurposeThis study evaluated the factors affecting contralateral and ipsilateral recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after iliac vein stent placement in patients with iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS).Materials and MethodsData from 130 patients (95 female patients) who underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis and stent placement for IVCS with left lower leg thrombosis at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Mean patient age was 69.0 ± 14.0 years old. Median follow-up was 14 months (range, 3–164 months). Anticoagulation therapy was prescribed for 6 months, followed by lifelong antiplatelet therapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors affecting the development of contralateral and ipsilateral recurrent DVT.ResultsSeven patients (5.4%) developed contralateral DVT (median, 26 months; range, 2–61 months), and 11 patients (8.5%) developed ipsilateral DVT (median, 1 month; range, 0–53 months). Stent location (odds ratio [OR], 11.564; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.159–115.417) and in-stent thrombosis during follow-up (OR, 15.142; 95% CI, 1.406–163.119) were predictors of recurrent contralateral DVT. Thrombophilia (OR, 47.560; 95% CI, 2.369–954.711), remaining inferior vena cava filter (OR, 30.552; 95% CI, 3.495–267.122), and in-stent thrombosis during follow-up (OR, 82.057; 95% CI, 2.915–2309.848) were predictors of ipsilateral DVT.ConclusionsContralateral DVT occurs late and is associated with extension of the iliac vein stent to the inferior vena cava and in-stent thrombosis. Ipsilateral DVT occurs relatively early and is associated with thrombophilia, remaining inferior vena cava filter, and in-stent thrombosis.     

LONG‐TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB). Methods: Between July 1997 and December 2003, 16 tumors in 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) with an immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were regularly followed in our hospital. The median patient age when EUS‐FNAB was performed was 62 years (range 26–82 years) and the median follow‐up period was 4.9 years (range 0.5–9.6 years). Results: Fourteen tumors showed no remarkable changes in size and shape during follow up compared with the initial diagnosis. Two tumors enlarged: one tumor approximately doubled its diameter in 8 years and the other tumor increased from 1.8 cm at diagnosis to up to 10 cm after only 2 years. Doubling time of the latter tumor was calculated as 3.1 months. Conclusions: We conclude that EUS‐FNAB might be a good modality for final diagnosis of GIST without surgery, and that GIST without rapid growth on follow up can be endoscopically followed.     

Image-directed color Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of superficial solid tumors

Image-directed color Doppler ultrasonography (ICDUS) studies of 86 patients with superficial solid masses yielded significantly lower resistive index (RI) values in acute inflammatory lesions, but no significant difference between the maximum systolic flow velocities (S) of the patient groups with malignant, benign, and acute inflammatory lesions. When analyzed separately, the malignant soft-tissue tumor subgroup was shown to have significantly higher mean RI compared to that of the malignant node subgroup. We conclude that RI may be useful in the differentiation of acute inflammatory masses from other pathological entities. Malignant soft-tissue tumors, especially sarcomas, may have different Doppler features from those of carcinomatous tumors. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

绝经后阴道出血852例临床分析

探讨经经后阴道出血的原因，相关因素来指导临床实践。方法；对我院收治的８５２例绝经后阴道出血的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果；以阴道炎最多２６９例、慢性宫颈炎１８８例，功能失调性子宫出血１０２例，宫内节育器９８例，恶性肿瘤５９例，以内膜癌 ３３例，卵巢恶性肿瘤次之１６例。     

B超诊断先天性无睑裂囊性眼临床分析(附2例报告)

报告 2例先天性无险裂囊性眼的B超图像,例 1左眼球前后径 28.2 mm,横径 31.3 mm,未见角膜、前房、虹膜及晶体回声,整个眼球均为暗区;例2右眼球均为暗区,前后径16.6 mm,未见角膜、前房、虹膜及晶体回声,眼球前外方另见13.8 mm×9.1 mm 的暗区。并对其发病机理与B超图像的关系进行讨论。     

妇科盆腔肿块超声误诊漏诊原因分析

本文报道经手术病理证实的１６７例妇科盆腔肿块超声检查结果，超声诊断总的符合率为９０．４２％（１５１／１６７）。其中子宫肌瘤、畸胎瘤、卵巢囊肿、卵巢囊腺瘤以及卵巢交响癌符合率较高，对于其它疾病引起的盆腔肿块也有参考价值，本文着重分析误诊漏诊原因，以吸取教训，供超声诊断借鉴。     

TCD观察动脉瘤性SAH后脑血管痉挛的血流动力学改变

目的探讨动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)后脑血管痉挛的血流动力学改变。方法经CT、DSA证实为动脉瘤性SAH患者179例,床旁经颅超声多谱勒(TCD)在术前、术后1~3d、5~7d、9~11d、12~14d记录并分析大脑中动脉(M CA)的血流参数及频谱改变。结果M CA平均血流速度(Vm)于SAH后1~3d开始升高,5~7d、9~11d达到高峰;L I(血管痉挛指数)为3~6时预后良好;>6时可以出现神经系统功能损害,颅内压增高且有脑血管痉挛(CV S)者预后较差。结论TCD能无创、实时评价SAH后CV S的动态变化,可以推断SAH后CV S的严重程度及临床转归。