Diagnostic sensitivity of electrophysiology and ultrasonography in ulnar neuropathies of different severity

ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying clinical severity in 135 consecutive patients.MethodsClinical severity of ulnar neuropathy was graded on a 4 point scale from very mild (symptoms only) to severe (marked atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles). Sensitivity and localization ability of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound were assessed for each point of the scale.ResultsUltrasound had higher sensitivity than electrophysiology in clinically very mild (20% and 3% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) and mild (62% and 47% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) neuropathies, had greater localizing ability in axonal ulnar neuropathies, and identified nerve hypermobility.Ultrasound nerve cross-sectional area had strong positive correlation with both clinical and electrophysiological severity scores, but with significant overlap across the severity groups.ConclusionThe diagnostic work-up of ulnar neuropathies was improved by using both electrophysiology and ultrasound at all levels of clinical severity. Ultrasound increased the diagnostic yield in very mild and mild neuropathies, localized all the ulnar neuropathies with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology and identified nerve hypermobility.SignificanceThis is the first detailed analysis of the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying severity.     

Ultrasound-guided Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer

Radiotherapy and brachytherapy are the definitive treatments for locally advanced cervix cancer. The use of soft-tissue imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, has enhanced their effectiveness and improved clinical outcomes. However, the use of magnetic resonance imaging is largely restricted to well-resourced centres in both the first and developing world and remains elusive to many less advantaged centres, particularly those in areas with a high burden of cervix cancer. Ultrasound is an accessible, affordable and accurate imaging modality that can be used throughout the brachytherapy procedure. Ultrasound is primarily used to ensure safe insertion of the applicator but can also be used to guide planning. The methods used to utilise ultrasound images for planning are described. Ultrasound is particularly useful as a verification aid to confirm applicator placement after patients are moved and transferred around the radiotherapy department. It can also be used to verify the dimensions of treatment volumes over the course of brachytherapy. There is a crucial unmet need for an accessible economical soft-tissue imaging modality in cervical brachytherapy. Ultrasound has the potential to meet this need.     

彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)评价胎儿生长发育状况

目的阐明CDFI对评价胎儿宫内状况的可行性。方法200例经普通B超检查的胎儿,按测量各项常规指标的数值分为正常组100例和异常组100例,再分析经CDFI检查,所测定的指标包括胎儿大脑中动脉、肾动脉、胎盘床动脉、脐动脉血流搏动指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)及脐动脉的收缩与舒张期峰值速率之比(S/D)。对其结果做详细记录,并进行统计学分析。结果正常组100例,经CDFI检查亦正常;胎儿出生时体重在2500g以上,新生儿发育正常。另100例异常组经CDFI检查各项指标中,54例正常,46例异常;胎儿出生时体重均小于2500g,其中54例新生儿虽体重较正常儿偏小,但发育正常;另46例胎儿宫内窘迫,导致导常分娩、新生儿生存率低。结论彩色多普勒血流显像对了解胎儿宫内情况有着重要的作用,是产科检查监护中不可缺少的部分。     

原发性肝癌的彩色多普勒及三维血流能量成像特征及其临床意义

目的:探讨三维血流能量成像(3D-CPA)和彩色多普勒血流成像(CDFI)的临床应用价值。方法:对47例原发性肝癌的病灶进行二维、CDFI及3D-CPA的检查,比较CDFI及3D-CPA显示肿瘤瘤内或瘤周血流多普勒信号丰富程度及血管分布类型,并检测肿瘤的血流参数。结果:3D-CPA显示肿瘤血流分布丰富程度及血管分布类型与CDFI均有显著性差异(均P<0.05),CDFI均可探及肿瘤的搏动性动脉血流,其中,收缩期峰值血流速度(PSV)为43~157cm/s,阻力指数(RI)为0.49~0.82,大于0.65者45例。结论:3D-CPA结合彩色多普勒血流参数的检测可作为临床评价原发性肝癌血供及血管分布的常规检查方法。     

Cerebral autoregulation is preserved in multiple system atrophy: A transcranial Doppler study.

Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) present large changes in blood pressure (BP) due to autonomic disturbances. We analyzed how this change may influence dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA). Simultaneous recordings of arterial BP (Finapres) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity (BFV) (transcranial Doppler) were performed in 10 patients with MSA (61 +/- 12 yr of age) and 12 healthy volunteers (61 +/- 11 yr of age): cerebral BFV response to oscillations in mean BP was studied in the supine position by cross-spectral analysis of mean BP and mean MCA BFV. The DCA was also studied during the decrease in BP the first seconds when standing up from a sitting position by the assessment of the cerebrovascular resistance index (CR; mean BP/mean MCA BFV ratio). The MCA BFV/BP cross-spectral analysis showed a phase for the mid-frequency band (0.07-0.2 Hz) significantly larger in MSA, suggesting more active autoregulation in response to larger changes in BP. Changes in CR reflecting the rate of autoregulation, when standing did not differ between the two groups. These data suggest that dynamic cerebral autoregulation is preserved in MSA.     

Derivation of Power M-Mode Transcranial Doppler Criteria for Angiographic Proven MCA Occlusion

BACKGROUND: Stringent transcranial Doppler (TCD) criteria for diagnosing occlusion are needed for more reliable TCD performance at bedside in the acute stroke setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: At three academic stroke centers, we performed TCD examination for patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA). We used a standard insonation protocol with power M-mode Doppler (PMD) TCD (TCD 100 M, Spencer Technologies Inc., Seattle, WA). We collected mean flow velocity (MFV), pulsatility indices (PI), and power M-mode resistance signature (absent, high, or low) in symptomatic middle (MCA), anterior (ACA), posterior (PCA), and in affected (a), ipsilateral (i), and contralateral (c-lat) cerebral arteries. Ratios of aMCA/c-lat MCA, aMCA/iACA, and aMCA/iPCA MFV were subsequently calculated. PMD-TCD flow findings were evaluated with a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for angiographically proven MCA occlusion. RESULTS: We studied 120 patients with acute cerebral ischemia with PMD-TCD examinations prior to or immediately after DSA. Lower aMCA velocities pointed to higher probability of occlusion (P= .055). The aMCA/iPCA MFV ratio was superior to the aMCA/iACA ratio and strongly predictive of occlusion at a threshold ratio of 0.5 (RR 2.31 CI(95) 2.13-2.51). High resistance or absent M-mode flow signatures in the proximal MCA were present in 87% of M1 and M2 MCA occlusions (probability 87%). In the presence of a low-resistance PMD signature, obtaining the aMCA/iPCA MFV ratio <0.5 increases probability of occlusion to 87%. Normal MFV ratios and low-resistance M-mode signatures are highly predictive of a negative angiogram for MCA occlusion. CONCLUSION: In acute cerebral ischemia, reliable criteria for proximal MCA occlusion have been developed based on combination of MFV ratios and M-mode flow resistance signatures. Validation of these criteria will require multicenter studies.     

Sources of Variability in the Detection of Cerebral Emboli with Transcranial Doppler During Cardiac Surgery

OBJECTIVE: The application of intensity thresholds for embolus detection with transcranial Doppler (TCD) can exclude from analysis an unrecognized proportion of high-intensity transient signals (HITS))whose intensities are below the threshold. The lack of consistent threshold criteria between clinical trials may explain part of the discrepancy in the reported HITS counts. We investigated the effect of choosing different thresholds on the sensitivity and specificity of detecting HITS during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Two observers independently analyzed TCD recordings from 8 patients under CPB. Doppler signals were classified as true HITS, equivocal HITS, artifacts, and Doppler speckles according to preestablished criteria. The relative intensity of Doppler signals was measured by two different methods (TCD software vs manual). Receiver Operating Characteristic curves determined the optimal threshold for each of the two intensity methods. RESULTS: Reviewers achieved agreement in 96% of 2190 Doppler signals (kappa = 0.90). Relative intensities calculated with the TCD-software method were 3 dB (95% CI: 3.0-3.4) higher than the manual method. The optimal threshold was found at 10 dB (sensitivity: 99%; specificity: 90.8%) with the software method and at 7 dB with the manual method (sensitivity: 96%; specificity: 83%). The use of an intensity threshold 2 dB higher than the optimal increased the rejection of true HITS by 8% and 14%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using intensity thresholds higher than the optimal for embolus detection decreases HITS counts. Choosing a threshold depends on the type of method used for measuring the signal intensity. Uniform threshold criteria and comparative studies between different Doppler devices are necessary for making clinical trials more comparable.     

实时超声引导下显微手术切除脑深部病灶

目的探讨术中超声引导在脑深部病灶显微手术中的应用价值。方法自2004年开始我们在脑深部病灶显微手术中采用实时超声引导病灶定位,指引手术中皮层入路及路径的选择,并使用术中超声影像动态了解病变位置的变化情况、手术切除的范围,利用实时影像辅助判断病变切除程度。结果28例脑深部病灶,病灶直径为1.0～5.9cm,病理诊断包括蛛网膜囊肿5例,海绵状血管瘤2例,动静脉畸形2例,肿瘤7例,脑内血肿12例。所有病例均显微镜下全切,术后28例患者均恢复良好,神经功能保存良好,无新的神经功能损害,无手术并发症。结论术中超声引导是一种简便有效的脑深部病灶定位方法,操作简便,定位准确,能够实时指引手术路径和动态了解手术切除病灶的范围,与显微神经外科配合能够有效地避免额外的手术损伤,提高手术精度。     

Female pelvic floor. Descriptive anatomy and clinical exploration by transvaginal ultrasound

In order to assess the state and pathology of the woman's pelvis minor, a number of methods are commonly used among practitioners, encompassing clinical exploration, radiology, MRN, urodynamics, endoscopy and echography.

Echography has been poorly used in clinical pelvic exploration and its reliability is actually a matter of controversy 1. However, echographic surveys can provide us with valuable gynecological data on the state and pathologies of the soft pelvis, within the genital regions or even going beyond them, i.e. the rectal channel, bladder, urethra, anus, vascular plexuses, and all of their supporting tissues.

At our research unit, we have been employing Transvaginal Ultrasound echography (TVU) for a long time in conjunction with other pelvis-focused methods in order to study different kinds of pelvic alterations. TVU has proven to be friendly to use, fast, harmless and inexpensive, allowing serial explorations and producing high-quality dynamic images (loop-cinema, video-tape). Furthermore, this method is fairly aseptic in that the occurrence of faeces in the rectal ampolla is not a nuisance but a bonus in tracking the contours of the rectum walls and other topographical features which would be otherwise difficult to survey.

A complete pelvic floor TVU may add no longer than 5-8 minutes to a routine gynecological examination, can be implemented by the general gynecologist and generates data that can be further studied by the appropriate specialist for a more insightful evaluation 2.