Joint effusion of the knee: potentialities and limitations of ultrasonography

Purpose

This study aimed at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of joint effusion of the knee.

Methods

For this retrospective study, approbation by the institutional review board was not required, and written informed consent from the patients was waived. One hundred and fifty-eight patients (83 men and 75 women; median age 41.2 years; age range 13–81 years) who underwent US and MRI of the knee were included in the study. The sensitivity and specificity of US with respect to MRI in the evaluation of the effusion of the knee and in each recess were compared.

Results

In evaluating joint effusion of the knee, compared with MRI, US correctly identified 78 of 96 patients with joint effusion, showing a sensitivity of 81.3 % and a specificity of 100 %, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100 % and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 77.5 % (p value = 0.001). Various results were obtained comparing ultrasound with MRI, regarding the various recesses.

Conclusion

US showed high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing knee joint effusion and could be used in patients who cannot undergo MRI.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40477-015-0180-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Role of US in evaluating breast implant integrity

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic accuracy and inter-observer variability of ultrasound (US) in recognizing signs of intra or extra-capsular rupture of silicone breast implants by using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings as the reference standard.

Methods

150 patients for a total of 300 implants underwent breast US and subsequently MR examination searching for signs of intra or extra-capsular rupture. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were calculated for breast US having MRI findings as the reference standard. Cohen’s kappa statistics was used in order to assess inter-observer agreement for US.

Results

170/300 (57 %) implant ruptures were detected at US (intra-capsular n = 110, extra-capsular n = 60). By comparing US findings with MR results, overall sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of 79, 63, 70, 65, and 77 %, respectively, were found for breast US. In case of intra-capsular rupture, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of 63, 63, 63, 45, and 77 %, respectively, were obtained; 100 % values were found for extra-capsular rupture US diagnosis.

Conclusion

US can be used as the first examination in patients with breast implants. US intra-capsular rupture detection requires further evaluation by MRI; in case of extra-capsular rupture US diagnosis, surgical implant removal could be proposed without further investigations.     

Sonoelastography findings of supraspinatus tendon in rotator cuff tendinopathy without tear: comparison with magnetic resonance images and conventional ultrasonography

Background and purpose

Sonoelastography (SE) is a new technique that can assess differences in tissue stiffness. This study investigated the performance of SE for the differentiation of supraspinatus (SSP) tendon alterations of tendinopathy compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and conventional ultrasonography (US).

Methods

One hundred and eighteen consecutively registered patients with symptoms and MRI findings of SSP tendinopathy were assessed with US and SE. Coronal images of the SSP tendon were obtained using US and SE. Increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the coronal planes were graded according to the extent of the signal changes from ventral to dorsal. SE images were evaluated by reviewers using an experimentally proven color grading system.

Results

Using SE, 7.6 % of the SSP tendons were categorized as grade 0, 30.5 % as grade 1, 19.5 % as grade 2, and 42.4 % as grade 3. Evaluation of the interobserver reliability of the SE findings showed “almost perfect agreement”, with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.83. By comparing the MRI findings with the SE findings, grades of MRI and SE had a positive correlation (r = 0.829, p = <0.001). Furthermore, grades of US and SE also had a positive correlation (r = 0.723, p = <0.001).

Conclusions

SE is valuable in the detection of the intratendinous and peritendinous alterations of the SSP tendon and has excellent interobserver reliability and excellent correlation with MRI findings and conventional ultrasonography findings.     

Prevalence of subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis in shoulder pain: an ultrasonographic study

Purpose

The presence of the subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursa inflammation has recently been proposed as a primary radiologic factor predicting persistent limitation and pain in operated patients. The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that pain, or increased shoulder pain, could be associated with SASD bursitis not only in operated patients but also in general population.

Methods

A consecutive series of 1940 shoulder ultrasound examinations were performed by our Department over a 5-year period using linear multi-frequency probes. All reports of examination executed for shoulder pain were reviewed. The video clips were independently reviewed by two radiologists: effusion in the SASD bursa and the presence of other pathological conditions were evaluated and confirmed.

Results

A total of 1147 shoulder video clips were re-evaluated, and 1587 pathologies were detected; 65.5 % of patients had only one pathology, 30.4 % had two and 4.1 % presented three pathologies. The difference between the group with and without effusion is statistically significant for acromioclavicular joint arthritis, supraspinatus tendon calcific tendinopathy, full-thickness and superficial tear of the supraspinatus, traumas and rheumatoid arthritis with a p value <0.01.

Conclusions

Our study shows that the effusion in the SASD bursa is frequently associated with shoulder pain often independently from the underlying pathology; further studies are needed to confirm the statistical significance of this relationship by clarifying possible confounding factors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40477-015-0167-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The accuracy of sonoelastography in fatty degeneration of the supraspinatus: a comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and conventional ultrasonography

Objective

Sonolastography (SE) technique is one of the new functional ultrasonic imaging techniques, which was developed in the past few years and can obtain the distributions of elasticity in tissues. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the standard of reference, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of SE to assess the fatty degeneration of suprasupinatus (SSP) and to compare it to the MRI and the conventional ultrasonography (US) findings.

Materials and methods

The institutional review board approved the study, and a retrospective analysis between January 2013 and September 2013 was performed on 101 shoulders of 98 consecutive patients using MRI, US, and SE for the evaluation of shoulder lesion. Oblique sagittal images of SSP were obtained using SE. The SE images were evaluated by reviewers using an experimentally proven color grading system.

Results

When comparing SE to standard MRI findings, the mean sensitivity of SE was 95.6 %, the specificity 87.5 %, and the accuracy 91.1 %. The interobserver reliability of the SE findings was “almost perfect agreement” with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.81. On comparing MRI with the SE findings, the grades of MRI and SE have a positive correlation (r = 0.855, P = <0.001). Furthermore, the grades of US and SE also have a positive correlation (r = 0.793, P = <0.001).

Conclusion

SE is valuable in the quantitative assessment of the severity of the fatty atrophy of the supraspinatus and has an excellent accuracy, an excellent correlation with MRI and the conventional US, and an excellent interobserver reliability.     

Sonography of the optic nerve sheath beyond the hyperacute stage of intracerebral hemorrhage

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility and utility of serial measuring of the optic nerve sheath diameter beyond the hyperacute and acute stage of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods

Four patients with extensive ICH in the left basal ganglia were followed using ultrasound (US) and cerebral CT scans.

Results

Optic nerve sheath diameter values assessed beyond the acute stage of ICH showed a high correlation (ρ = 0.84, p = 0.0022) with midline shift of the third ventricle seen on CT scans.

Conclusions

Optic nerve sonography can be useful to evaluate patients with extensive ICH beyond the acute stage and help monitoring clinical evolution in these patients, when ICP monitoring is not feasible.     

Ultrasound assessment of elbow enthesitis in patients with seronegative arthropathies

Background

Enthesopathy is an evolving area for applied clinical research. MRI is the gold standard in the diagnosis of elbow joint pathology, but recent reports indicate that ultrasound imaging is more sensitive and accurate than MRI in detecting enthesopathy of the heels and knees. Too many patients are under-diagnosed and/or misdiagnosed because the early pathological changes of enthesitis in the different types of seronegative arthropathies are not detected.

Objectives

This study was undertaken to describe the ultrasound features of elbow enthesitis in patients with seronegative arthropathies.

Methods

We studied 38 diseased elbows in 38 patients with spondyloarthropathies (26 men and 12 women, mean age 32 years). All had elbow enthesopathy without typical conventional radiographic findings. Patients with histories of degenerative changes and/or local steroid injections were excluded. An HDI 3000 ATL ultrasound machine was used with a 5–12 MHz linear transducer to examine the affected elbow joints. The elbows of 10 normal healthy individuals were examined as normal controls. The patients were examined in the supine position with the elbow flexed 30°–50°. Longitudinal and transverse scans were obtained of the radiohumeral joint, the ulnahumeral joint, and the olecranon fossa. Two independent observers unaware of the clinical diagnosis read the ultrasound images and assessed the collateral ligaments, intratendinous echogenicity, tendon calcification, tendon thickness, presence of fluid, synovial proliferation, and bony changes. The reliability of the sonographic images was assessed by review of video recordings of the ultrasound examinations.

Results

Ultrasound revealed loss of the fibrillar echopattern (100 %), lack of a homogenous pattern with loss of the tightly packed echogenic dots (100 %), peritendinous edema with flaring of the tendon margins (84.2 %), irregular fusiform tendon thickening (100 %), and hyperechoic intratendinous lesions with ill-defined focal defects (18.4 %). Ultrasound also detected intratendinous calcifications of both the common extensor and common flexor tendons (52.6 %). Bony erosions were seen at the tendon insertions into the lateral epicondyles (13.15 %).

Conclusion

Ultrasonographic features of elbow enthesitis differed from those described in knee and heel enthesitis. Ultrasound clearly showed early signs of tendon calcification, tendon edema, peritendinitis, and bony entheseal erosions. However, in elbow enthesitis the early bone erosion was associated with bone marrow edema, and the common extensor tendon was diffusely thickened. Ultrasound is a reliable, reproducible bedside imaging procedure. It improves the documentation of disease activity, progression, and treatment responses in patients with spondyloarthropathies. We recommend its use for the diagnosis and post-treatment follow-up of patients with enthesitis and seronegative spondyloarthropathies.     

Sonoelastography findings of biceps tendinitis and tendinosis

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sonoelastography (SE) in the assessment of the long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) in patients with symptoms of biceps tendinitis or tendinosis and in patients without biceps lesion. The findings were compared with those obtained at clinical examination, using ultrasonography (US).

Materials and methods

36 shoulders of 34 consecutively registered patients with clinical symptoms and US findings of biceps tendinitis or tendinosis, and 114 shoulders of 98 patients without biceps lesions were assessed with SE. Transverse and longitudinal images of LHBT were obtained using SE. SE images were evaluated by reviewers using an experimentally proven color grading system.

Results

The transverse images of SE showed a mean sensitivity of 69.4 %, a mean specificity of 95.6 % and a mean accuracy of 89.3 %. Good correlation of conventional ultrasound findings was found (p < 0.001, r = 0.763). The longitudinal images of SE showed a mean sensitivity of 94.4 %, a mean specificity of 92.1 % and a mean accuracy of 92.7 %. Good correlation of conventional ultrasound findings was found (p < 0.001, r = 0.585). Inter-observer reliability of SE was in “almost perfect agreement” with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.84.

Conclusions

SE has potential to be clinically useful in the detection of the intratendinous and peritendinous alterations of LHBT and has excellent accuracy and excellent correlation with conventional ultrasound findings.     

EFFECTS OF A MOVEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM ON HIP AND KNEE JOINT FRONTAL PLANE RUNNING MECHANICS

Background/Purpose:

Frontal plane running mechanics may contribute to the etiology or exacerbation of common running related injuries. Hip strengthening alone may not change frontal plane hip and knee joint running mechanics. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether a training program including visual, verbal, and tactile feedback affects hip and knee joint frontal plane running mechanics among females with evidence of altered weight bearing kinematics.

Methods:

The knee frontal plane projection angle of 69 apparently healthy females was determined during a single leg squat. The twenty females from this larger sample who exhibited the most acute frontal plane projection angle (medial knee position) during this activity were chosen to participate in this study (age = 20 ± 1.6 years, height = 167.9 ± 6.0 cm, mass = 63.2 ± 8.3 kg, Tegner Activity Rating mode = 7.0). Participants engaged in a 4‐week movement training program using guided practice during weight bearing exercises with visual, verbal, and tactile feedback regarding lower extremity alignment. Paired t‐tests were used to compare frontal plane knee and hip joint angles and moments before and after the training program.

Results:

After training, internal hip and knee abduction moments during running decreased by 23% (P=0.007) and 29% (P=0.033) respectively. Knee adduction and abduction excursion decreased by 2.1° (P = 0.050) and 2.7° (P=0.008) respectively, suggesting that less frontal plane movement of the knee occurred during running after training. Peak knee abduction angle decreased 1.8° after training (P=0.051) although this was not statistically significant. Contralateral peak pelvic drop, pelvic drop excursion, peak hip adduction angle, hip adduction excursion, and peak knee adduction angle were unchanged following training.

Conclusions:

A four week movement training program may reduce frontal plane hip and knee joint mechanics thought to contribute to the etiology and exacerbation of some running related injuries.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4     

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with SonoVue in the evaluation of postoperative complications in pediatric liver transplant recipients

Purpose

To evaluate the utility of contrast-enhanced sonography in the study of pediatric liver transplant recipients and its potential impact in reducing the need for invasive diagnostic procedures.

Materials and methods

From October 2002 to December 2003 we performed routine color Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound studies on 30 pediatric patients who had undergone liver transplantation. Findings indicative of complications were confirmed with invasive studies (angiography, computed tomography, and PTC).

Results

Contrast-enhanced sonography correctly identified four of the five cases of hepatic artery thrombosis and all those involving the portal (n = 6) and hepatic vein (n = 3) thrombosis. It failed to identify one case of hepatic artery thrombosis characterized by collateral circulation arising from the phrenic artery and the single case of hepatic artery stenosis. The latter was more evident on color Doppler, which revealed a typical tardus parvus waveform. The use of contrast offered no significant advantages in the study of biliary complications although it did provide better visualization of bile leaks.

Conclusions

Contrast-enhanced sonography improves diagnostic confidence and reduces the need for more invasive imaging studies in the postoperative follow-up of pediatric liver transplant recipients.     

Assessment of articular disc displacement of temporomandibular joint with ultrasound

Purpose

To assess pattern of articular disc displacement in patients with internal derangement (ID) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with ultrasound.

Materials and methods

Prospective study was conducted upon 40 TMJ of 20 patients (3 male, 17 female with mean age of 26.1 years) with ID of TMJ. They underwent high-resolution ultrasound and MR imaging of TMJ. The MR images were used as the gold standard for calculating sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of ultrasound for diagnosis of anterior or sideway displacement of the disc.

Results

The anterior displaced disc was seen in 26 joints at MR and 22 joints at ultrasound. The diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound for anterior displacement has sensitivity of 79.3 %, specificity of 72.7 %, accuracy of 77.5 %, PPV of 88.5 %, NPV of 57.1 %, PLR of 2.9 and NLR of 0.34. The sideway displacement of disc was seen in four joints at MR and three joints at ultrasound. The diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound for sideway displacement has a sensitivity of 75 %, specificity of 63.6 %, accuracy of 66.7 %, PPV of 42.8, NPV of 87.5 %, PLR of 2.06, and NLR of 0.39.

Conclusion

We concluded that ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging modality used for assessment of anterior and sideway displacement of the articular disc in patients with ID of TMJ.     

Role of transrectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of extracapsular prostate cancer

Introduction

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) has significantly improved the diagnostic rate, nevertheless, the correlation between findings on TRUS and clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa) is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and utility of preoperative TRUS in patients with PCa to define the sonographic signs of cohesion of the Denonvilliers’ fascia (DF) to prostate capsula (PC) to detect the local advancement of the disease.

Methods

Between April 2010 and May 2013, at our Department of Urology, the clinical anatomy of preoperative regions and excised specimens was reviewed macroscopically for 68 cases of radical retropubic prostatectomy for PCa and compared to ultrasound images obtained by TRUS.

Results

Pathological analysis detected on the surface of the prostate the DF fused with the PC at the midpoint of the prostatic posterior surface in 94 % of the cases, in 4 % the DF remained at a certain distance from PC in this region and in 1 case lateral pelvic fascia fused with PC and little adipose tissue was present between them (P < 0.005). The TRUS allowed a more precise result in terms of tumor extension to DF with a detection rate of 95 %. (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In our opinion, it is very important to recognize preoperatively the possibility of cancer extracapsular extension to the DF and to the rectum wall, using a simple and low cost examination as TRUS. The knowledge of the fascial structures anatomy around the prostate is necessary to perform a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy, avoiding excessive bleeding, iatrogenic positive surgical margin, and post-operative complications.     

Traditional landmark versus ultrasound guided tracheal puncture during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in adult intensive care patients: a randomised controlled trial

Introduction

Long-term ventilated intensive care patients frequently require tracheostomy. Although overall risks are low, serious immediate and late complications still arise. Real-time ultrasound guidance has been proposed to decrease complications and improve the accuracy of the tracheal puncture. We aimed to compare the procedural safety and efficacy of real-time ultrasound guidance with the traditional landmark approach during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT).

Methods

A total of 50 patients undergoing PDT for clinical indications were randomly assigned, after obtaining informed consent, to have the tracheal puncture procedure carried out using either traditional anatomical landmarks or real-time ultrasound guidance. Puncture position was recorded via bronchoscopy. Blinded assessors determined in a standardised fashion the deviation of the puncture off midline and whether appropriate longitudinal position between the first and fourth tracheal rings was achieved. Procedural safety and efficacy data, including complications and number of puncture attempts required, were collected.

Results

In total, 47 data sets were evaluable. Real-time ultrasound guidance resulted in significantly more accurate tracheal puncture. Mean deviation from midline was 15 ± 3° versus 35 ± 5° (P = 0.001). The proportion of appropriate punctures, defined a priori as 0 ± 30° from midline, was significantly higher: 20 (87%) of 23 versus 12 (50%) of 24 (RR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.13 to 2.67; P = 0.006). First-pass success rate was 20 (87%) of 23 in the ultrasound group and 14 (58%) of 24 in the landmark group (RR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.17; P = 0.028). The observed decrease in procedural complications was not statistically significant: 5 (22%) of 23 in the ultrasound group versus 9 (37%) of 24 in the landmark group (RR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.23 to 1.47; P = 0.24).

Conclusions

Ultrasound guidance significantly improved the rate of first-pass puncture and puncture accuracy. Fewer procedural complications were observed; however, this did not reach statistical significance. These results support wider general use of real-time ultrasound guidance as an additional tool to improve PDT.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ID: ACTRN12611000237987 (registered 4 March 2011)

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-014-0514-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Susceptibility-weighted cardiovascular magnetic resonance in comparison to T2 and T2 star imaging for detection of intramyocardial hemorrhage following acute myocardial infarction at 3 Tesla

Background

Intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) identified by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is an established prognostic marker following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Detection of IMH by T2-weighted or T2 star CMR can be limited by long breath hold times and sensitivity to artefacts, especially at 3T. We compared the image quality and diagnostic ability of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SW MRI) with T2-weighted and T2 star CMR to detect IMH at 3T.

Methods

Forty-nine patients (42 males; mean age 58 years, range 35–76) underwent 3T cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) 2 days following re-perfused AMI. T2-weighted, T2 star and SW MRI images were obtained. Signal and contrast measurements were compared between the three methods and diagnostic accuracy of SW MRI was assessed against T2w images by 2 independent, blinded observers. Image quality was rated on a 4-point scale from 1 (unusable) to 4 (excellent).

Results

Of 49 patients, IMH was detected in 20 (41%) by SW MRI, 21 (43%) by T2-weighted and 17 (34%) by T2 star imaging (p = ns). Compared to T2-weighted imaging, SW MRI had sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 86%. SW MRI had similar inter-observer reliability to T2-weighted imaging (κ = 0.90 and κ = 0.88 respectively); both had higher reliability than T2 star (κ = 0.53). Breath hold times were shorter for SW MRI (4 seconds vs. 16 seconds) with improved image quality rating (3.8 ± 0.4, 3.3 ± 1.0, 2.8 ± 1.1 respectively; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

SW MRI is an accurate and reproducible way to detect IMH at 3T. The technique offers considerably shorter breath hold times than T2-weighted and T2 star imaging, and higher image quality scores.     

Diagnostic accuracy of emergency physician performed graded compression ultrasound study in acute appendicitis: a prospective study

Purpose

Accurate early diagnosis of appendicitis can decrease its complications and minimize the mortality, morbidity and costs. This prospective study evaluates the accuracy of bedside emergency physician performed ultrasound study diagnosis in acute appendicitis.

Methods

Patients who were suspicious to have appendicitis based on their clinical findings were included and underwent emergency physician performed ultrasound study. Then they were followed up until the recognition of final diagnosis based on pathology report or identification of an alternative diagnosis. Ultrasound studies were done by post-graduate year three emergency medicine residents or emergency medicine attending physicians who were attended in a 4 h didactic and practical course and with 7.5 MHz linear probe both in longitudinal and axial axes.

Results

Ninety-seven patients were included and analyzed. 27 (27.8 %) of patients had appendicitis according to the results of emergency physicians performed ultrasound studies. 19 (70.37 %) of them had appendicitis according to their pathologic reports too. Forty-three (44.3 %) of patients had appendicitis according to pathology reports. Only 19 (44.18 %) of them were diagnosed by emergency physicians. Emergency physician performed ultrasound study had a sensitivity of 44.18 %, specificity of 85.18 %, positive predictive value of 70.37 %, negative predictive value of 65.71 % and overall accuracy of 67.01 % in diagnosing appendicitis in patients clinically suspicious to have acute appendicitis.

Conclusion

Emergency physician performed bedside ultrasound has an acceptable overall accuracy but its sensitivity is low thus it can help emergency physicians to diagnose the acute appendicitis when used in conjunction with other clinical and para-clinical evaluations but not per se.     

Transrectal ultrasound guidance for early transurethral recatheterization after radical prostatectomy

Purpose

To study the usefulness of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) for catheter guidance in cases of early reinsertion after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

Since 2007, we have used TRUS for catheter guidance when early reinsertion after RP is required. A preliminary TRUS examination is done to carefully check the state of the vesicourethral anastomosis. The entire catheter insertion, from bulbar urethra to the bladder, is followed step by step by transrectal ultrasound imaging that tracks, while the probe pushes the catheter through a correct entering line. This prevents the incorrect placement of the catheter across the posterior aspect of the anastomosis in a posterior extravesical place.

Results

Between 2007 and 2011, 2,165 RPs were performed at reference hospital for prostate cancer. Early catheter reinsertion was required for 56 patients (2.6 %). All procedures were successful. The incidence of vesicourethral stricture after long-term follow-up was not different from that of patients without early recatheterization who were operated with RP in the same period of the study (4.4 vs 4.2 %, respectively; p = 0.47).

Conclusions

If early recatheterization is required in patients recently operated with RP, we suggest catheter guidance with TRUS.     

Characterization of a murine model of cardiorenal syndrome type 1 by high-resolution Doppler sonography

Abstract

Cardiorenal syndrome type 1 (CRS-1) is the acute kidney disfunction caused by an acute worsening of cardiac function. CRS-1 is the consequence of renal vasoconstriction secondary to renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation. No animal models of CRS-1 are described in literature.

Purpose

To characterize a murine model of CRS-1 by using a high-resolution ultrasound echo-color Doppler system (VEVO2100).

Materials

Post-ischemic heart failure was induced by coronary artery ligation (LAD) in seven CD1 mice. Fifteen and thirty days after surgery, mice underwent cardiac and renal echo-color Doppler. Serum creatinine and plasma renin activity were measured after killing. Animals were compared to seven CD1 control mice.

Results

Heart failure with left ventricle dilatation (end diastolic area, p < 0.05 vs. controls) and significantly reduced ejection fraction (EF; p < 0.01 vs. controls) was evident 15 days after LAD. We measured a significant renal vasoconstriction in infarcted mice characterized by increased renal pulsatility index (PI; p < 0.05 vs. controls) associated to increased creatinine and renin levels (p < 0.05 vs. controls)

Conclusions

The mice model of LAD is a good model of CRS-1 evaluable by Doppler sonography and characterized by renal vasoconstriction due to the activation of the renin–angiotensin system secondary to heart failure.     

Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of ductus venosus blood flow in 55 canine fetuses

Purpose

The ductus venosus (DV) blood flow has been studied in fetal lambs and in humans. This study aims to describe the velocities, the Doppler indices and the morphological patterns of the venous blood flow in the DV of canine fetuses during physiological pregnancy.

Methods

The DV of 55 canine fetuses has been evaluated and the waveforms described using B-mode, color and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound technology.

Results

We found 48 diphasic waves and 7 threephasic waves. No monophasic waveform was found. Six of seven threephasic waveforms belonged to litters in which perinatal mortality occurred. The peak velocity during ventricular systole S (cm/s), the peak velocity during the ventricular diastole D (cm/s), the velocity during atrial contraction aV (cm/s), the S/D index, the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index were measured.

Conclusions

All Doppler indices and velocities were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.05). The number of newborn puppies and the age of bitches were not related to DV vascular indices or flow rate (p > 0.05). Gestational age was proportional to the PI (p < 0.02). Doppler ultrasonography allows the assessment of DV blood flow in canine fetuses during pregnancy.     

The role of ultrasonography in the assessment of peri-prosthetic hip complications

Purpose

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a widespread option for treating hip osteoarthritis. Peri-prosthetic complications after THA represent a common event influencing patient outcome and costs. The purpose of this paper is to report the use of ultrasonography (US) to detect peri-prosthetic complications in symptomatic patients who underwent THA.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with THA who underwent imaging evaluation between January 2009 and December 2012 at two different institutions. We evaluated the presence/absence of superficial and/or deep peri-prosthetic collections as well as the presence/absence of a cutaneous sinus tract. For patients who underwent both MRI and US, a concordance correlation analysis between US and MR findings was performed.

Results

In the reference period, 532 symptomatic patients (mean age ± standard deviation 74 ± 12 years) underwent X-ray and MRI examinations for suspected peri-prosthetic complications. Among them, 111 (20.9 %) underwent also US. Overall, 108 patients underwent both US and MRI. US findings included 67 superficial collections, 48 subcutaneous fistulas, 74 deep peri-prosthetic collections. Twenty-four patients had solid, mass-like peri-prosthetic collections. In 11 patients, no peri-prosthetic complications were seen. MRI findings included 68 superficial collections, 49 subcutaneous fistulas, 79 deep peri-prosthetic collections. Twenty-four patients had solid, mass-like peri-prosthetic collections. In four patients, no peri-prosthetic complications were seen. Concordance analysis between US and MRI findings showed almost perfect agreement (k ≥ 0.89).

Conclusion

US is an efficient and practical imaging modality to evaluate peri-prosthetic complications in patients with THA, being almost comparable to MRI in detecting and characterizing these complications.     

Drainage-related ultrasonography (DRUS): a novel technique for discriminating obstructive and nonobstructive hydroureters in children

Background

Despite advances in urologic imaging, the paucity of an optimal technique that accurately clarifies obstructive and nonobstructive hydroureter exists.

Objective

This study was conducted to introduce a novel and modified ultrasonographic technique, known as drainage-related ultrasonography (DRUS), discriminating obstructive and nonobstructive, nonrefluxing hydroureter.

Materials and methods

A total of 358 children (mean age, 3.7 years) with 418 nonrefluxing hydroureter were included. These children were composed of two groups of obstructive nonrefluxing (141 children with 157 dilated ureters) and nonobstructive, nonrefluxing (217 children with 261 hydroureter). The definite diagnosis regarding the subtype of hydroureter was derived from appropriate investigation. The maximum diameter of the dilated ureter, which was observed on ultrasonography, was recorded before and after 3 h of catheterization, as D1 and D2, respectively. To assess the D ratio, a formula was developed, that is, [(|D1 − D2|)/D1] × 100. Values were recorded and cutoff points were set to discriminate between subtypes.

Results

Obstructive versus nonobstructive subtypes of nonrefluxing hydroureter were clarified with 78.5 % sensitivity and 83.4 % specificity, by setting a cutoff point of 22 % for the D ratio. Regardless of the cutoff point assigned to the reduction in D (D2 compared with D1), DRUS revealed 93.9 % sensitivity, 80.6 % specificity, 63.2 % positive predictive value, and 97.4 % negative predictive value in discriminating upper from lower obstruction.

Conclusion

DRUS affords favorable results in terms of differentiating between obstructive and nonobstructive, nonrefluxing hydroureter, as well as between upper and lower obstruction in obstructive cases. It has the potential to become an efficient imaging modality in the diagnostic algorithm of hydroureter.