Quantification of Enhancement of Renal Parenchymal Masses with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of quantitative assessment of enhancement in diagnosing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). A total of 73 solid renal parenchymal masses underwent both conventional ultrasound and CEUS. We compared the difference in maximum diameters on conventional ultrasound and CEUS between the benign and malignant groups. Enhancement features derived from a time-intensity curve were also analyzed. The diameters of renal cancer were found to be larger on CEUS than on conventional ultrasound (p < 0.05). When cutoff values of 4.74 s for washout time and 8.52% for enhancement intensity at 60 s for diagnosing RCCs were applied, the sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 67.3%, 95.2%, 86.5% and 65.4%, 81.0%, 68.4%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for these two enhancement characteristics combined as a criterion for differentiating RCCs from benign lesions were 44.0% and 99.1%, respectively. Early washout in the area of maximal intensity in the interior of the lesion and prolonged washout in the whole area of the lesion are specific CEUS manifestations suggestive of RCC.     

Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Using Perflubutane Microbubbles for Diagnosing Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis in Rats

We determined the ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using perflubutane microbubbles to diagnose liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats using histology as the reference standard. Fibrosis was induced by oral administration of carbon tetrachloride to 32 Wistar rats. Features with baseline ultrasound (US) and enhancement level of liver and spleen with CEUS were obtained. In the post-vascular phase of CEUS, images of normal livers (n = 5) were significantly brighter than images of fibrotic (n = 6) and cirrhotic livers (n = 13) by quantitative analysis (all p < 0.05). The contrast between livers and spleens in rats with cirrhosis was quantitatively greater than that in normal rats and rats with fibrosis (all p < 0.05). Compared with US, CEUS improved sensitivity from 63% to 84% and accuracy from 71% to 88%. Specificity was 100% for both. The increased value of CEUS in diagnosing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rats supports its evaluation in clinical trials.     

Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Detecting Competent and Incompetent Lower-Extremity Perforating Veins

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the identification of competent and incompetent lower-extremity perforating veins. Patients with chronic venous insufficiency who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. All patients underwent pre-operative CEUS and color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and accepted subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery. We compared the numbers of perforator veins identified by CEUS and CDU with the endoscopy result, which was considered the gold standard. Fifty cases (56 lower extremities) were enrolled. CEUS detected 132 perforating veins, and CDU detected 104 perforating veins. Endoscopy detected 148 perforating veins. The sensitivity and specificity of CDU in predicting the site of perforating veins in our study were 70.2% and 100%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were 89.2% and 100%, respectively (p?<0.05). CEUS could be used to detect perforating veins, including incompetent and competent veins of the lower extremity, because it was more sensitive than CDU, with intra-operative endoscopy as the control standard.     

恶性危险指数在附件包块术前诊断中的应用

目的：探讨以绝经状态,血清CA125和超声评分3者结合建立的恶性危险指数对附件包块术前诊断中的应用进行评价。方法：针对2001—01／2008—06附件包块患者475例,计算3种恶性危险指数判断恶性肿瘤的敏感度、特异度;统计图形用ROC曲线及ROC曲线下面积来评价诊断方法。结果：三种RMI的ROC曲线下面积均高于单一诊断指标,以200为临界值,RMI1,RMI2,RMI3的敏感度分别是57.1%、62．3％、59．0％。结论：恶性危险指数是诊断附件恶性肿瘤的良好指标,利于术前进行治疗方案的选定。     

超声造影评价不孕症患者子宫内膜容受性的应用研究

目的通过经阴道超声造影(CEUS)检测子宫内膜血流灌注情况,评价不孕症患者内膜容受性。方法28例健康育龄妇女纳入对照组,29例不孕症妇女纳入研究组。所有纳入者在增殖晚期、排卵期和种植窗期接受经阴道CEUS检查,绘制时间-强度曲线,获取定量分析参数:峰值强度(PI)及曲线下面积(AUC)。结果增殖晚期及排卵期研究组子宫内膜区PI及内膜下区PI、AUC明显低于对照组(P<0.05),种植窗期子宫内膜区及子宫内膜下区PI、AUC两组间均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论经阴道超声造影可检测子宫内膜血流灌注,可成为不孕症患者子宫内膜容受性评估的指标之一。     

B型超声诊断阴囊肿块的研究

为了评价B型超声检查在阴囊肿块诊断中的价值，本文分析了91例阴囊肿块患者的超声表现，并与手术和病理结果相对照，结果表明，超声诊断总的符合率为95％。本文作者认为，B型超声检查有助于阴囊肿块的定位和定性诊断，可做为这些疾病的首选诊断方法。     

Intracavitary Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Management of Post-Surgical Gastrointestinal Fistulas

The goal of this study was to investigate intracavitary contrast-enhanced ultrasound (IC-CEUS) measures in the management of post-surgical gastrointestinal (GI) fistula throughout detection, treatment and follow-up. From June 2010 to August 2016, patients who were administered ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) via a drainage tube for IC-CEUS were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. They were suspected of having GI anastomotic fistulas or had been found to have fluid collections with ultrasound that were accompanied by abdominal pain or fever after surgical procedures. Forty-two patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled into this study. Twenty-two were confirmed to have GI fistulas confirmed by standard references. None were detected by conventional ultrasound. Although IC-CEUS successfully detected GI fistulas in 16 patients, it missed GI fistulas in 6 patients. One patient was misdiagnosed with a GI fistula. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of the diagnosis of GI fistulas by IC-CEUS were 72.7% (16/22), 95.0% (19/20), 94.1% (16/17), 76.0% (19/25) and 83.3% (35/42), respectively. Twenty peritoneal fluid collections in 14 patients were related to fistulas by IC-CEUS based on the distribution of ultrasound contrast agents. Additional drainage was performed in 14 fistula-related fluid collections. Eight GI fistulas were judged to be cured after IC-CEUS re-evaluation, and the drainage tubes were removed from these patients. In conclusion, IC-CEUS can greatly improve the ability to diagnose post-surgical GI fistulas and may also play an important role in interventional treatment and follow-up.     

超声造影对早期细菌性肝脓肿的诊断价值

目的 探讨早期细菌性肝脓肿的超声造影的特点及在诊断中的应用价值.方法 回顾性分析12例经临床治疗、超声引导下穿刺病理证实为早期细菌性肝脓肿的常规超声和超声造影的影像学表现.结果 早期细菌性肝脓肿常规超声表现为均匀或不均匀肝内低回声病灶;超声造影表现为病灶中央持续性无充填,病灶测值减小,一过性周边增强;而"花瓣征"或"蜂窝样"改变为其特征性表现.结论 超声造影对早期细菌性肝脓肿尤其是不典型表现的早期肝脓肿有较高的诊断价值.     

超声包裹征预测附件囊性包块蒂扭转的价值

目的探讨超声"包裹征"预测附件囊性包块蒂扭转的应用价值。方法回顾性分析193例因急性下腹痛就诊且超声检查存在附件囊性包块女性患者的超声图像,以手术结果为金标准确定附件扭转组131例,非扭转组62例,比较两组间超声包裹征的出现率,计算包裹征预测附件囊性包块蒂扭转的诊断效能。结果 (1)包裹征对应病理表现为扭转后输卵管及囊壁组织的广泛梗死水肿,半包绕扭转蒂部远端的囊肿;(2)扭转组131例中,出现包裹征共36例(27.5%),非扭转组中62例中出现1例(1.6%)包裹征,两组间差异具有统计学意义(P<0.001)。包裹征诊断附件囊性包块蒂扭转灵敏度、特异度和准确度分别为27.5%、98.4%、50.3%。当囊性包块最大长径<75.5mm时,包裹征诊断附件囊肿蒂扭转灵敏度、特异度和准确度分别为51.9%、97.6%、71.6%。结论超声包裹征预测附件囊性包块蒂扭转中具有高特异度。对于因下腹痛来诊女性患者,当合并包裹征时,应敢于提出疑似扭转的诊断。     

运用高频超声鉴别诊断浅表软组织肿物

为探讨高频超声鉴别诊断浅表软组织肿物的价值,本文使用7.5～15MHz高频探头观察了131例浅表软组织肿块,结果显示海绵状血管瘤、腱鞘囊肿、腘窝囊肿、皮下脂肪瘤高频声像较具特征性,而表皮样囊肿、皮脂腺囊肿、脓肿等声像类似实性肿块,恶性淋巴瘤声像类似囊性肿块。文中对其鉴别诊断及高频超声探头使用价值进行了讨论。作者认为,鉴别浅表软组织囊、实性肿块的主要因素为后方回声增强程度、肿块形态及内部回声水平。     

Imaging Microvasculature with Contrast-Enhanced Ultraharmonic Ultrasound

Atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization was shown to be one of the strongest predictors of future cardiovascular events. Yet, the clinical tools for coronary wall microvasculature detection in vivo are lacking. Here we report an ultrasound pulse sequence capable of detecting microvasculature invisible in conventional intracoronary imaging. The method combines intravascular ultrasound with an ultrasound contrast agent, i.e., a suspension of microscopic vascular acoustic resonators that are small enough to penetrate the capillary bed after intravenous administration. The pulse sequence relies on brief chirp excitations to extract ultraharmonic echoes specific to the ultrasound contrast agent. We implemented the pulse sequence on an intravascular ultrasound probe and successfully imaged the microvasculature of a 6 days old chicken embryo respiratory organ. The feasibility of microvasculature imaging with intravascular ultrasound sets the stage for a translation of the method to studies of intra-plaque neovascularization detection in humans.     

超声造影与增强CT对肝硬化背景下肝内小结节样病灶的诊断比较和误诊分析

目的 比较超声造影(CEUS)与增强螺旋CT(CECT)对肝硬化背景下≤3 cm结节样病灶的诊断效能.方法 对74例84个肝硬化合并肝内小结节样病灶患者行CEUS及CECT检查,评估2种检查方法的诊断效能并分析其误诊原因.结果 CEUS对小结节样病灶的敏感性、特异性、准确性分别为88.6%、87.5%、88.1%,CECT对应值分别为79.5%、95.0%、86.9%(P>0.05).2种检查方法均正确诊断68个结节(33个HCC,35个良性结节),CEUS误诊10个(5个HCC,5个良性结节),CECT误诊10个(8个HCC,2个良性结节),漏诊1个,两者均误诊的有5个结节(3个HCC,2个良性结节).结论 CEUS对肝硬化背景下小结节样病灶的定性诊断价值与CECT相似,对于误诊病例,应予注意.     

超声造影及DSA对肝移植术后脾动脉窃血综合征诊断的对照研究

目的 探讨超声造影对肝移植术后脾动脉窃血综合征的诊断价值.方法 肝移植术后10例患者在超声造影诊断为肝移植术后脾动脉窃血综合征后,即刻进行DSA造影,将两者检查结果进行统计分析.结果 超声造影见移植肝肝动脉内造影剂增强信号微弱,肝动脉内径偏细.DSA造影见肝动脉纤细,造影剂染色稀薄暗淡,脾动脉明显增粗,两者诊断结果无统计学意义.结论 超声造影应常规作为肝移植术后的可疑移植肝血管系统异常的无创检查手段,具有极高的应用价值.     

Differential Diagnosis of Gallbladder Wall Thickening: The Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder wall (GBW) thickening and determine the predictors of malignant GBW thickening. One hundred fifty-nine patients with GBW thickening, including 76 men and 83 women, from eight institutions were enrolled. CEUS was performed after injection of a sulfur hexafluoride microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agent. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to reveal independent predictors associated with malignant GBW thickening. The final diagnoses were 48 gallbladder carcinomas and 111 benign gallbladder diseases. Maximal thicknesses of the GBW in malignant and benign GBW thickening were 17.3 ± 5.2 (6–30) mm and 8.6 ± 5.1 (4–26) mm respectively (p < 0.001). CEUS revealed significant differences in intra-lesional vessels, enhancement homogeneity, time to hypo-enhancement, inner layer discontinuity, outer layer discontinuity and adjacent liver involvement (all p-values < 0.05) between malignant and benign GBW thickening. Patient age > 46.5 y, focal GBW thickening, inner layer discontinuity and outer layer discontinuity were found to be associated with malignancy by multiple logistic regression analysis (all p-values < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed Az values for patient age, focal GBW thickening, inner wall discontinuity and outer wall discontinuity of 0.709 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.627–0.790), 0.714 (95% CI: 0.630–0.798), 0.860 (95% CI: 0.791–0.928) and 0.858 (95% CI: 0.783–0.933), respectively. CEUS is useful in the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign GBW thickening. Focal GBW thickening, inner wall discontinuity and outer wall discontinuity observed on CEUS are diagnostic clues for malignant GBW thickening.     

超声造影用于诊断腹部疾病

目的：探讨超声造影在腹部疾病诊断中的应用价值。方法：对37例肝脏局灶性病变（FLLs）、5例肾细胞癌和12例血管疾病的患者进行超声造影检查,观察分析靶目标的常规超声和超声造影表现,并与2008年欧洲超声造影指南对照。结果：FLLs彩色多普勒超声显示17个病灶测及彩色血流,而超声造影显示36个病灶内有血流进入。不同类型的FLLs有不同的增强表现,超声造影判定恶性FLLs的敏感性为83%,特异性为93%,准确性为87%。肾细胞癌的超声造影表现多样。超声造影更有助于血管疾病的准确诊断。结论：超声造影在诊断FLLs中的临床应用价值高,在其他腹部疾病的诊断方面也有一定的应用价值。     

Logistic Regression Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound and Conventional Ultrasound Characteristics of Sub-centimeter Thyroid Nodules

The purpose of the study described here was to determine specific characteristics of thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC) and explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with conventional ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of TMC. Characteristics of 63 patients with TMC and 39 with benign sub-centimeter thyroid nodules were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors. Four variables were included in the logistic regression models: age, shape, blood flow distribution and enhancement pattern. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.919. With 0.113 selected as the cutoff value, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 90.5%, 82.1%, 89.1%, 84.2% and 87.3%, respectively. Independent risk factors for TMC determined with the combination of CEUS and conventional US were age, shape, blood flow distribution and enhancement pattern. Age was negatively correlated with malignancy, whereas shape, blood flow distribution and enhancement pattern were positively correlated. The logistic regression model involving CEUS and conventional US was found to be effective in the diagnosis of sub-centimeter thyroid nodules.     

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Characterization of Hepatocellular Carcinomas Treated by Ablation: Comparison with Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of low-mechanical-index contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in assessing the response to percutaneous microwave ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by comparing the results with those of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI). Between August 2005 and July 2011, 182 patients with 231 lesions treated by microwave ablation were included in the study. One month after microwave ablation, CEUS and CEMRI were performed to evaluate therapeutic responses. The difference in diagnostic accuracy between the two methods was analyzed to evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound after microwave ablation. The final diagnosis was based on computed tomography and MRI typical findings of therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinoma, proven serum tumor marker levels and additional follow-up. The sensitivity of CEUS and CEMRI in evaluating the therapeutic effect of hepatocellular carcinoma was 86.5% and 84.6%; the specificity, 98.3% and 98.9%; and the accuracy, 95.7% and 95.7%.There was no significant statistical disparity between CEUS and CEMRI (p > 0.05).The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 98.1, 97.2 and 97.8% when CEUS was used in combination with CEMRI to evaluate the therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinoma to microwave ablation. CEUS examination was proven to be a tolerable and easy modality for assessment of the therapeutic effect of microwave ablation and can provide results comparable to those obtained with CEMRI. Combining the results of these two examinations may reduce false-positive and false-negative diagnoses.     

Measuring Absolute Blood Perfusion in Mice Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

We investigated the feasibility of estimating absolute tissue blood perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging in mice. We developed a novel method of microbubble administration and a model-free approach to estimate absolute kidney perfusion, and explored the kidney as a reference organ to estimate absolute perfusion of a neuroblastoma tumor. We performed CEUS on the kidneys of CD1 nude mice using the VisualSonics VEVO 2100 imaging system. We estimated individual kidney blood perfusion using the burst–replenishment (BR) technique. We repeated the kidney imaging on the mice after a week. We performed CEUS imaging of a neuroblastoma mouse xenograft tumor along with its right kidney using two sets of microbubble administration parameters to estimate absolute tumor blood perfusion. We performed statistical tests at a significance level of 0.05. Our estimated absolute kidney perfusion (425 ± 123 mL/min/100 g) was within the range of previously reported values. There was no statistical difference between the estimated absolute kidney blood perfusions from the 2 wk of imaging (paired t-test, p = 0.09). We estimated the absolute blood perfusion in the neuroblastoma tumor to be 16.49 and 16.9 mL/min/100 g for the two sets of microbubble administration parameters (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p = 0.6). We have established the kidney as a reliable reference organ in which to estimate absolute perfusion of other tissues. Using a neuroblastoma tumor, we have determined the feasibility of estimating absolute blood perfusion in tissues using contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging.     

三维能量多普勒超声诊断宫腔粘连的价值分析

目的探讨三维能量多普勒超声诊断宫腔粘连的价值。方法回顾性分析本院112例疑似宫腔粘连患者的临床资料。所有患者入院后均分别行二维多普勒超声、三维能量多普勒超声及宫腔镜检查。以宫腔镜检查结果为金标准,判断二维多普勒超声、三维能量多普勒超声对宫腔粘连诊断效能。结果 112例患者宫腔镜检查显示,宫腔粘连92例,宫腔正常20例;以宫腔镜检查结果为金标准,三维能量多普勒超声对宫腔粘连诊断灵敏度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为97.83%、95.00%、97.32%、98.90%、90.48%,高于二维多普勒超声的90.22%、65.00%、85.71%、92.22%、59.09%;宫腔粘连组VI、FI、VFI低于宫腔正常组(P<0.05);轻度粘连、中度粘连、重度粘连患者VI、FI、VFI呈下降趋势(P<0.05)。结论宫腔粘连诊断中应用三维能量多普勒超声的价值显著。     

超声造影在脑胶质瘤手术中的应用价值

目的 研究超声造影在脑胶质瘤手术中的应用价值.方法 对31例脑胶质瘤患者于术中瘤体摘除前后进行常规超声及超声造影检查,观察肿瘤及瘤周造影显像特点、对照核磁成像对肿瘤定位、明确边界、术后判断肿瘤残余情况以辅助手术.结果 31例脑胶质瘤(Ⅰ级2例,Ⅱ级13例,Ⅲ级11例,Ⅳ级5例)超声造影均可明确肿瘤边界、判断瘤周水肿带,术后肿瘤残余18处,超声造影判断残余肿瘤的灵敏度85.71％、特异度90.32％,常规超声判断残余肿瘤的灵敏度61.91％、特异度83.87％.结论 术中超声造影在脑胶质瘤手术中具有较好的临床辅助价值.