Comparative study of the substantia nigra echogenicity and 123I-Ioflupane SPECT in patients with synucleinopathies with and without REM sleep behavior disorder

ObjectivesHyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) and abnormal dopamine transporter-single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) are biomarkers commonly used in the assessment of prodromal synucleinopathy. Our goals were as follows: (1) to compare echogenicity of SN in idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder (iRBD), Parkinson's disease (PD) without RBD (PD-noRBD), PD with RBD (PD + RBD), and control subjects; and (2) to examine association between SN degeneration assessed by DAT-SPECT and SN echogenicity.Patients/methodsA total of 61 subjects with confirmed iRBD were examined using Movement Disorders Society-unified PD rating scale (MDS-UPDRS), TCS (transcranial sonography) and DAT-SPECT. The results were compared with 44 patients with PD (25% PD + RBD) and with 120 age-matched healthy subjects.Results and conclusionThe abnormal SN area was found in 75.5% PD, 23% iRBD and 7.3% controls. Median SN echogenicity area in PD (0.27 ± 0.22 cm²) was higher compared to iRBD (0.07 ± 0.07 cm²; p < 0.0001) and controls (0.05 ± 0.03 cm²; p < 0.0001). SN echogenicity in PD + RBD was not significantly different from PD-noRBD (0.30 vs. 0.22, p = 0.15).Abnormal DAT-SPECT was found in 16 iRBD (25.4%) and 44 PD subjects (100%). No correlation between the larger SN area and corresponding putaminal binding index was found in iRBD (r = −0.13, p = 0.29), nor in PD (r = −0.19, p = 0.22).The results of our study showed that: (1) SN echogenicity area in iRBD was higher compared to controls, but the hyperechogenicity was present only in a minority of iRBD patients; (2) SN echogenicity and DAT-SPECT binding index did not correlate in either group; and (3) SN echogenicity does not differ between PD with/without RBD.     

Sonographic features of benign thyroid nodules: interobserver reliability and overlap with malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine the sonographic findings of nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid, to compare these with reported findings associated with malignancy, and to assess interobserver reliability. METHODS: Seventy thyroid nodules were scanned, and then biopsies of the nodules were performed under sonographic guidance with fine-needle cytologic analysis; in all cases images were reviewed by 2 experienced radiologists without knowledge of clinical outcome. Findings reported associated with malignancy were specifically assessed. Interobserver agreement between the expert and secondary readers for each finding was calculated by the kappa or weighted kappa statistic and the Fisher exact test of independence. RESULTS: There were 68 benign and 2 malignant nodules in a population of 63 female and 7 male patients. The mean benign nodule size was 2.9 cm; 60% were solid; 54% were hypoechoic; 59% were microlobulated or macrolobulated; 47% had central vascularity; 24% contained calcifications; and 82% were elliptical in shape. There was very good interobserver reliability for the presence of calcium (kappa = 0.91) and good agreement for the presence and location of vascularity (kappa = 0.75) and the amount of cystic components (kappa = 0.62; all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Sixty-nine percent of benign nodules had at least 1 finding reported previously as associated with malignancy. The interobserver reliability of the sonographic findings was good to very good for 3 of the 5 findings assessed.     

Smoking and hypertension: risk factors for carotid stenosis

Summary The prevalence of smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was assessed in 221 patients suffering from internal carotid stenosis and compared with the prevalences in two sex- and age-matched control groups composed of subjects having normal Doppler findings and from non-neurological outpatients. Of the subjects with carotid stenosis 27.6% were hypertensive smokers in comparison with 9.5% and 17.2% in the two control groups. The difference of the stenosis cohort from the two control groups was significant (P<0.01 and P=0.016 respectively). There was no statistically significant differences between the occurrence of diabetes and hypertension in non-smokers and patients who smoked. In 394 investigated patients suffering from carotid stenosis or occlusion an obstruction index, based on the Doppler shift frequency, was calculated. This index was lowest in the normotentive non-smokers. It was only insignificantly higher in the hypertensive non-smokers but significantly so in the normotensive smokers. The index was highest in the hypertensive non-smokers. It was concluded that cigarette smoking, especially if associated with hypertension, is a determinant risk factor for carotid stenosis and occlusion.     

经颅彩色双功超声在脑血管疾病中的临床应用和进展

经颅彩色双功超声是一种新型、无创的超声诊断仪,高空间分辨率显示颅内血管和脑实质的结构,笔者查阅了近年来相关文献,主要综述经颅彩色多普勒血流显像在颅脑血管疾病中的诊断价值,同时讨论二维经颅超声的应用及新的实验性显像技术。     

彩色多普勒超声在肝细胞癌经动脉化疗栓塞术后的应用

对于失去手术机会的肝细胞肝癌,介入治疗是目前比较公认的首选治疗方法,但因其复发、转移率高,故术后寻找一种简便、有效的监测方法客观评价其疗效显得尤其重要。本文综述了彩色多普勒超声在肝细胞肝癌经动脉化疗栓塞术后评价的应用,及与其他影像学方法比较和其优势所在。     

超声造影诊断肝孤立性坏死结节的价值

目的:探讨超声造影诊断肝孤立性坏死结节的价值。材料和方法:回顾分析了12例肝孤立性坏死结节的超声造影表现。结果:12例病灶造影动脉期、门脉期、实质期均无增强,呈边界清晰的造影剂充盈缺损区。结论:超声造影对诊断肝孤立性坏死结节具有较高的价值。目的:探讨超声造影诊断肝孤立性坏死结节的价值。材料和方法:回顾分析了12例肝孤立性坏死结节的超声造影表现。结果:12例病灶造影动脉期、门脉期、实质期均无增强,呈边界清晰的造影剂充盈缺损区。结论:超声造影对诊断肝孤立性坏死结节具有较高的价值。     

穿刺加三苯氧胺治疗乳腺囊肿的疗效观察(附36例)

目的：比较乳腺可扪及囊肿穿刺抽液后服用三苯氧胺和单纯穿刺抽液两种治疗方法的疗效.方法：将临床可扪及乳腺囊肿根据乳腺B超检查结果入组68例,随机分为穿刺抽液治疗组32例和穿刺抽液后服三苯氧胺治疗组36例,两组患者穿刺抽液后中位随访13个月观察疗效.结果：68例可扪及乳腺单纯囊肿,平均囊肿大小23mm,36例穿刺服三苯氧胺组复发率13.89%（5/36）,32例穿刺抽液组复发率37.50%（12/32）,两组相比较（P＜0.05）有显著性差异.乳腺囊肿病史＞1年的患者,穿刺服三苯氧胺组和穿刺组复发率分别是36.36%（4/11）和77.78%（7/9）,两组相比较（P＜0.05）差异有显著性.对单个囊肿,多发囊肿,囊肿病史＜1年患者,两种治疗方法不影响复发率（P＞0.05）.结论：临床可扪及乳腺单纯囊肿可根据B超检查筛选适合穿刺患者,穿刺抽液加服三苯氧胺治疗可减少复发,囊肿病史＞1年者复发率较高.     

胰腺肿瘤的B型超声诊断

本文将资料完整的并经手术及病理证实的27例胰腺肿瘤初步小结。详细描述各例肿瘤的临床们诊与诊断、B型超声和手术情况，并重点讨论：临床们诊和B型超声未能检出的肿瘤，检出肿瘤大小较手术所见尺寸的要，10mm～40mm以及未见肿瘤浸润的原因。     

Saline infusion sonohysterography: technique, indications, and imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: To review the technique, indications, and common imaging findings regarding saline infusion sonohysterography. METHODS: The literature on saline infusion sonohysterography was reviewed. Pertinent images from our institution are presented to illustrate common imaging findings. RESULTS: From the literature review, we summarize the various clinical scenarios in which saline infusion sonohysterography is useful and give examples from our clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Saline infusion sonohysterography is a useful procedure for evaluation of endometrial and subendometrial abnormalities.