Summary of Journal of Interventional Radiology

T. Livraghi, S. Lazzaroni*, L. Civelli, M. Marks, F. Meloni, C. VettoriDivisione di Radiologia, Ospedale Civile, Mercate. Milano and * Divisione di Medicina, Ospedale S.Biagio Bergamo. Italy     

Determination of the Cause of Edema

Currently. neither external detection nor~1 dilution methods can differentiate among cardiac, overhydration (including renal failure) and capillary permeability edema. New techniques designed to detect 2~increased pem-     

Structured reporting of MRI of the shoulder – improvement of report quality?

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of structured reports (SRs) in comparison to non-structured narrative free text (NRs) shoulder MRI reports and potential effects of both types of reporting on completeness, readability, linguistic quality and referring surgeons’ satisfaction.

Methods

Thirty patients after trauma or with suspected degenerative changes of the shoulder were included in this study (2012–2015). All patients underwent shoulder MRI for further assessment and possible surgical planning. NRs were generated during clinical routine. Corresponding SRs were created using a dedicated template. All 60 reports were evaluated by two experienced orthopaedic shoulder surgeons using a questionnaire that included eight questions.

Results

Eighty per cent of the SRs were fully complete without any missing key features whereas only 45% of the NRs were fully complete (p?<?0.001). The extraction of information was regarded to be easy in 92% of the SRs and 63% of the NRs. The overall quality of the SRs was rated better than that of the NRs (p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

Structured reporting of shoulder MRI improves the readability as well as the linguistic quality of radiological reports, and potentially leads to a higher satisfaction of referring physicians.

Key Points

? Structured MRI reports of the shoulder improve readability. ? Structured reporting facilitates information extraction. ? Referring physicians prefer structured reports to narrative free text reports. ? Structured MRI reports of the shoulder can reduce radiologist re-consultations.

     

On the Principle of Treatment of Burn Wound

The article expounds the therapeutic features of the Moist Exposed Burn Therapy(MEBT)in the treatment of-burn injuries by means of experimental research data and clinical application experiences about MEBT and confirmsthat the principle and method of conventional dry therapy for burn injuries is contrary to burn pathogenesis,whileMEBT is an effective medical technique which is in conformity with burn pathogenesis at present.Histogical studies confirmed:microscopical examination of wound tissue treated with dry exposure therapyshowed that the granulation tissue was atrophic,in which the lobocytes exudated,collagenous fibers wereeosinophilous.An inanimate sign was emerged in the granulation tissue.The wound tissue treated with MEBT wasfull of vitality,fibroblasts proliferated actively and there were aboundant blood vessels.The comparison study be-tween amnion overlying therapy and MEBT in the treatment of superfcialⅢ°burnt wound confrmed that the latercould make the wound heal through epidermization.The     

Risk coefficient of radon-induced lung cancer and combined effect of arsenic in miners of Yunnan tin mine of China

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Accuracy of outside radiologists’ reports of computed tomography exams of emergently transferred patients

Purpose

Growing numbers of patient with advanced imaging being transferred to trauma centers has resulted in increased numbers of outside CT scans received at trauma centers. This study examines the degree of agreement between community radiologists’ interpretations of the CT scans of transferred patients and trauma center radiologists’ reinterpretation.

Methods

All CT scans of emergency transfer patients received over a 1 month period were reviewed by an emergency radiologist. Patients were classified as trauma or non-trauma and exams as neuro or non-neuro. Interpretive discrepancies between the emergency radiologist and community radiologist were classified as minor, moderate, or major. Major discrepancies were confirmed by review of a second emergency radiologist. Discrepancy rates were calculated on a per-patient and per exam basis.

Results

Six hundred twenty-seven CT scans of 326 patients were reviewed. Major discrepancies were encountered in 52 (16.0%, 95% CI 12.2–20.5) patients and 53 exams (8.5%, 95% CI 6.5–10.5). These were discovered in 46 trauma patients (21.6%, 95% CI 16.4–27.9) compared to six non-trauma patients (5.3%, 95% CI 2.2–11.7) (P?<?0.001). A significant difference in the major discrepancy rate was also found between non-neuro and neuro exams (12.4 vs 3.3%, respectively, P?<?0.001), primarily due to discrepancies in trauma patients, rather than non-trauma patients.

Conclusions

Potentially management-changing interpretive changes affected 16% of transferred patients and 8.5% of CT exams over a 1 month period. Trauma center reinterpretations of community hospital CT scans of transferred patients provide valuable additional information to the clinical services caring for critically ill patients.

     

Sonography of injury of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow—initial experience

Objective The purpose of this study is to describe the sonographic appearance of injuries of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow.Design and patients Eight non-professional male baseball pitchers, ages 13–35 years, with medial elbow pain and clinical suspicion of ulnar collateral ligament injury, were referred for imaging. All eight underwent sonography of the affected and contralateral asymptomatic elbow, and six also underwent MR imaging. Neither valgus stress nor power Doppler was used during the sonographic examinations. Time from onset of symptoms to imaging was 1.5 weeks to 6 months. Three patients had surgical confirmation of their injuries, with time from imaging to surgery of 2 days to 9 months.Results In four patients, the UCL was ruptured, manifest sonographically in three cases as discontinuity of the normally hyperechoic ligament with anechoic fluid in the gap and in one case as non-visualization of the ligament with heterogeneous echogenicity in the expected location of the ligament. Two adolescent patients had avulsions of the UCL from the medial epicondyle, with sonographic demonstration of the avulsed echogenic bony fragment in both cases. One patient had a mild sprain, manifest as mild thickening and decreased echogenicity of the ligament sonographically compared with the contralateral normal elbow, with mild surrounding hypoechoic edema. The eighth patient had a small partial tear of the deep surface of the distal aspect of the ligament, visualized as a hypoechoic focus between the deep surface of the ligament and its ulnar attachment.Conclusion Tears of the ulnar collateral ligament are manifested sonographically as non-visualization of the ligament or alteration of the normal morphology.     

Analysis of comparative performance of CEUS and CECT/MR LI-RADS classification: Can CEUS dichotomize LI-RADS indeterminate lesions on CT or MRI?

PurposeTo study the comparative performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced CT or MRI (CECT/MR) in evaluating liver lesions using the LI-RADS guidelines.MethodsRetrospective analysis of radiology database from July 2010 to April 2017 revealed 228 patients who had CECT/MR and CEUS. Patients at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), had contemporaneous CEUS and CECT/CEMR studies within 3 months and adequate follow up were included; reviewed (2 reviewers) and graded according to the 2017 CEUS and 2018 CECT/MR LI-RADS guidelines. Reference standard was multidisciplinary clinical decisions, histology or follow-up imaging.ResultsThe study cohort consisted of 45 patients with 46 lesions. HCC were significantly larger than non-malignant (mean sizes of 2.5 and 1.4 cm, respectively, p<0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficient for CEUS review (0.941) was higher than of CECT/MR review (0.643). Mean area-under-ROC curve (AUC) for CEUS (0.994) was significantly higher than of CECT/MR (0.760) for all lesions (p=0.01). For lesions scored LR-3 by CECT/MR, the AUC was significantly higher for CEUS (0.978) than CECT/MR (0.500) (p<0.001). Twenty-one (of 27) lesions, classified LR-3 or LR-4 by CECT/MR were upgraded by CEUS and 20 were found to be HCC. Six lesions that were LR-3 on both CECT/MR and CEUS were found to be non-malignant. There was good concordance for LR-5 lesions between both techniques.ConclusionCEUS is useful for reassessment of lesions with intermediate probability (LR-3) or probable for HCC (LR-4) on CECT/MR. Lesions upgraded by CEUS tend to be HCC. Lesions that remain LR-3 on CEUS tend to be non-malignant.     

Enhancement patterns of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: comparison between contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT

The aim of this study was to compare the enhancement pattern of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with that on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). 40 pathologically proven ICC lesions in 40 patients were evaluated retrospectively with both CEUS and CECT. The enhancement level and pattern in the dynamic phases on both CEUS and CECT were analysed. The diagnostic results of CEUS and CECT before pathological examination were also recorded. During arterial phases, the number of lesions that appeared as (i) peripheral irregular rim-like hyperenhancement, (ii) diffuse heterogeneous hyperenhancement, (iii) diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement and (iv) diffuse heterogeneous hypoenhancement were 19 (47.5%), 9 (22.5%), 5 (12.5%) and 7 (17.5%), respectively, on CEUS, and 22 (55.0%), 3 (7.5%), 2 (5.0%) and 13 (32.5%), respectively, on CECT (p = 0.125). In the portal phase, the number of lesions showing hyperenhancement and hypoenhancement were 1 (2.5%) and 39 (97.5%), respectively, on CEUS, and 15 (37.5%) and 25 (62.5%) on CECT (p = 0.0001). CEUS made a correct diagnosis in 32 (80.0%) lesions before pathological examination; CECT made a correct diagnosis in 27 (67.5%) lesions (p = 0.18). In conclusion, the enhancement patterns of ICC on CEUS were consistent with those on CECT in the arterial phase, whereas in the portal phase ICC faded out more obviously on CEUS than on CECT. CEUS had the same accuracy as CECT in diagnosing ICCs, and so can be used as a new modality for the characterization of ICC.     

经阴道超声造影诊断早期子宫内膜癌的临床价值

目的 探讨经阴道超声造影(transvaginal sonography contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, TVS-CEUS)诊断早期子宫内膜癌的临床价值。方法 选择2016-03至2021-10经病理确诊的96例早期子宫内膜癌患者,术前均行经阴道超声(transvaginal sonography, TVS)、TVS-CEUS、核磁共振增强(CEMRI)检查。以病理检查结果为金标准,对比分析三种方法诊断Ia期子宫内膜癌的价值,并考察三种检查方法对Ia期子宫内膜癌分期与病理结果的一致性。结果 TVS-CEUS诊断Ia期子宫内膜癌的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值,各项指标均显著高于TVS,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),CEMRI与TVS-CEUS差异无统计学意义。Kappa检验显示：TVS与病理的一致性不佳(Kappa=0.137,P=0.152),TVS-CEUS及MRI的Kappa值分别为0.737及0.819,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论 TVS-CEUS鉴别诊断Ia期子宫内膜癌具有较高的临床价值。     

超声增强造影与肝酶水平在肝损伤分级中的意义

目的探讨超声增强造影和血清肝酶在肝损伤检查和分级中的价值和意义。方法 20只健康新西兰大白兔,雌雄不限,体重为(2.15±0.23)kg。随机制作不同级别的肝损伤模型。建模前后抽取静脉血进行血清肝酶检查,建模后分别使用通用16排螺旋CT和Philip公司IU22临床超声仪对实验动物进行增强CT和超声增强造影检查,然后根据美国创伤外科协会(AAST)分级标准对肝脏损伤进行分级,最后将超声造影的分级结果与增强CT分级结果进行Spearman相关性分析,将血清肝酶的结果与CT分级结果进行Pearson相关性分析。结果按照AAST诊断标准,超声增强造影和增强CT检查对肝损伤等级的分类具有很高的一致性,Spearman相关系数为0.888(P0.0001),Kappa值为0.71;天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、乳酸脱氨酶(LDH)、AST/ALT比值与肝损伤的等级呈正相关,Pearson相关系数分别为0.664(P=0.0014)、0.704(P=0.0005)、0.503(P=0.024),γ-谷氨酰基转移酶(GGT)水平与肝损伤等级呈负相关(r=-0.467,P=0.038)。结论超声增强造影和血清肝酶检查在对肝损伤的检查与分级上与增强CT检查的结果有较好的一致性,可作为肝损伤诊断及治疗中监测手段。     

乏血供肝转移瘤超声造影与CT增强扫描的对比研究

目的:探讨乏血供肝转移瘤超声造影(CEUS)血流灌注特点及其与CT增强扫描的差异。方法:选择CT增强扫描提示为乏血供肝转移瘤的12例(20个病灶)行常规超声及造影检查。二维超声观察病灶的部位、大小、边界、内部回声;CEUS观察病灶各期的强化模式、强化水平,重点观察动脉期(0～25s),并与CT增强扫描进行比较。结果:12例共20个病灶,CT增强扫描动脉期:1个病灶轻度增强(5%),11个环形强化(55%),2个不均匀强化(10%),6个无强化(30%)。CEUS动脉期:11个病灶弥漫性均匀强化(55%),7个环形强化(35%),2个不均匀强化(10%)。结论:CEUS显示乏血供肝转移瘤动脉期血供情况优于CT增强扫描;对于CT增强扫描怀疑为乏血供肝转移瘤患者,尤其是单发转移瘤,CEUS检查对临床诊断和治疗有很大帮助。     

Contrast ultrasound in hepatocellular carcinoma at a tertiary liver center: First Indian experience

AIM: To assess the role of contrast enhanced ultrasonography in evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the first Indian tertiary liver center. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examinations over 24 mo for diagnosis, surveillance, characterization and follow up of 50 patients in the context of HCC was performed. The source and indication of referrals, change in referral rate, accuracy and usefulness of CEUS in a tertiary liver center equipped with a 64 slice dual energy computer tomography (CT) and 3 tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were studied. Sonovue (BR1, Bracco, Italy, a second generation contrast agent) was used for contrast US studies. Contrast enhanced CT/MRI or both were performed in all patients. The findings were taken as a baseline reference and correlation was done with respect to contrast US. Contrast enhanced MRI was performed using hepatocyte specific gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA). Iomeron (400 mg; w/v) was used for dynamic CT examinations. RESULTS: About 20 (40%) of the examinations were referred from clinicians for characterization of a mass from previous imaging. About 15 (30%) were performed for surveillance in chronic liver disease; 5 (10%) examinations were performed for monitoring lesions after radiofrequency ablation (RFA); 3 (6%) were post trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) assessments and 3 (6%) were patients with h/o iodinated contrast allergy. About 2(4%) were performed on hemodynamically unstable patients in the intensive care with raised alpha fetoprotein and 2(4%) patients were claustrophobic. The number of patients referred from clinicians steadily increased from 12 in the first 12 mo of the study to 38 in the last 12 mo. CEUS was able to diagnose 88% of positive cases of HCC as per reference standards. In the surveillance group, specificity was 53.3% vs 100% by CT/MRI. Post RFA and TACE specificity of lesion characterization by CEUS was 100% in single/large mass assessment, similar to CT/MRI. For non HCC lesions such as regenerative and dysplastic nodules, the specificity was 50% vs 90% by CT/MRI. The positive role of CEUS in imaging spectrum of HCC included a provisional urgent diagnosis of an incidentally detected mass. It further led to a decrease in time for further management. A confident diagnosis on CEUS was possible in cases of characterization of an indeterminate mass, in situations where the patient was unfit for CT/MRI, was allergic to iodinated contrast or had claustrophobia, etc.CEUS was also cost effective, radiation free and an easy modality for monitoring post RFA or TACE lesions. CONCLUSION: CEUS is a valuable augmentation to the practice of ultrasonography, and an irreplaceable modality for confounding cases and interpretation of indeterminate lesions in imaging of HCC.     

Enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound versus contrast-enhanced computed tomography

Objective

To compare the enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with that on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).

Methods

Thirty-two consecutive patients with pathologically proven hilar cholangiocarcinomas were evaluated by both low mechanical index CEUS and CECT. The enhancement feature of the tumor, portal vein infiltration, and lesion conspicuity on them was investigated.

Results

In the arterial phase, the numbers of the lesions showing hyperenhancement, isoenhancement, and hypoenhancement, were 14 (43.8%), 14 (43.8%), and 4 (12.6%), on CEUS, and 12 (37.5%), 9 (28.1%), and 11 (34.4%), on CECT (P = 0.162). In portal phase, the numbers of the lesions showing hypoenhancement, isoenhancement, and hyperenhancement were 30 (93.8%), 1 (3.1%), and 1 (3.1%), on CEUS, and 23 (71.9%), 8 (25.0%), and 1 (3.1%), on CECT (P = 0.046). The detection rates for portal vein infiltration were 84.2% (16/19) for baseline ultrasound, 89.5% (17/19) for CEUS, and 78.9% (15/19) for CECT (all P > 0.05 between every two groups). CEUS significantly improved the lesion conspicuity in comparison with CECT. CEUS and CECT made correct diagnoses in 30 (93.8%) and 25 (78.1%) lesions prior to pathological examination (P = 0.125).

Conclusion

The enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on CEUS was similar with that on CECT in arterial phase, whereas in portal phase hilar cholangiocarcinoma shows hypoenhancement more likely on CEUS. CEUS and CECT lead to similar results in evaluating portal vein infiltration and diagnosis of this entity.     

Effectiveness and safety of CEUS-guided haemostatic injection for blunt splenic trauma: an animal experiment

The aim of this study was to investigate whether complications occur after haemostatic agents are injected into blunt splenic injuries. After undergoing ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) examinations, dogs with grade III?CIV injury received the minimally invasive therapy. After treatment, CEUS was performed to observe changes in the regions treated. In the immediate group, dogs underwent laparotomy 30 min after treatment to observe the haemostatic effect. In the survival group, animals underwent CEUS and CECT examinations to observe the short-term healing outcome and complications at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the injection. After undergoing CEUS and CECT examinations, 12 dogs with grade III-IV injury received the minimally invasive therapy. Before injection, CEUS examinations showed anechoic and/or hypoechoic perfusion defects and active bleeding at the injury sites, and CECT showed traumatic lesions as low-density regions without enhancement. After treatment, CEUS demonstrated the disappearance of active bleeding, and hyperechoic spots emerged at the injury sites. Uneven density regions were displayed on CECT. Treated areas were covered by blood clots and glue membrane in the immediate-group animals. Three weeks later, CEUS showed a decrease of hyperechoic spots in the survival group, and the splenic parenchyma enhanced uniformly on CECT. Laparotomy showed that the greater omentum had moved upwards and partly covered the wound in four animals, and the injury sites had completely healed. Histopathological examination showed that fibrous connective tissue covered the splenic capsule and that the haemostatic glue had degraded. No complication occurred, such as delayed splenic haemorrhage, splenic abscesses, splenic pseudoaneurysms, intestinal obstruction or intestinal adhesions. CEUS-guided haemostatic injection is not only effective in stopping active bleeding immediately, but it is also safe in that no complications occurred during the 3 weeks of follow-up. This study indicates that CEUS-guided percutaneous injection may provide a safe, feasible and effective therapy for blunt splenic trauma.     

超声造影在肝癌病灶诊断及引导射频消融治疗中的应用价值

目的探讨超声造影（CEUS）在肝恶性肿瘤病灶诊断及引导射频消融（RFA）治疗中的应用价值。方法对经病理确诊并经RFA治疗的56例肝癌患者资料进行回顾性分析,术前比较增强cT、普通彩色多普勒超声（二维＋多普勒）和超声造影对肝癌（原发及转移）的检出率,观察二维及超声造影病灶图像差异及特点。对普通彩色多普勒超声引导组（62个病灶）和超声造影引导组（so个病灶）在术中引导RFA的消融效果进行对比并利用超声造影观察射频消融术后疗效。结果56例肝癌患者,112个病灶（原发灶36个,转移灶76个）。超声造影对肝癌病灶检出率为94．6％（106／112）,增强CT对肝癌病灶检出率为96．4％（108／112）,两者检出率比较差异无统计学意义0（x^2=0．42,P〉O．05）。普通彩色多普勒超声对肝癌病灶检出率为74．1％（83／112）,其与超声造影的检出率差异有统计学意义0（2=16,P〈0．05）。在普通彩色多普勒超声引导下进行RFA完全消融率为69％（43／62）,超声造影引导下完全消融率为84％（42／50）,两者的完全消融率差异无统计学意义舒=1．6,P〉0．05）。结论超声造影在RFA术前对肝脏肿瘤的诊断,术中对病灶的准确定位及实时引导穿刺,术后对手术疗效的随访观察都具有重要的应用价值。