Presence of multiple ring-down artifacts posterior to the right hemidiaphragm

Abstract

Objective: During sonography examination of the liver, it is frequent to observe the presence of isolate ring-down artifacts that are projected on the posterior surface of the right hemidiaphragm. Such relief, if multiple and constant, may be in relationship to possible pathology of the right pulmonary base.Methods: We have appraised the presence of multiple ring-down artifacts on the posterior surface of the right hemidiaphragm in two consecutive groups of patients: 12 subjects (group A), 5 males, range in age from 38 to 72 years (mean 62 years), suffered from pulmonary pathology to the right base, documented from the standard thoracic radiography (6 with presence of non-specific interstitial pneumonia to the base and 5 with basal bronchopneumonia; absence in all of evident pleuric effusion), and 41 subjects (group B), 27 males, range in age from 21 to 61 years (mean 38 years), affected from viral chronic hepatitis submitted to thoracic radiography investigation after liver biopsy. It has been meaningful considering the contemporary and repeated presence of multiples (more than five and less than ten) or numerous (10 or more) ring-down artifacts in a scanning that understudied the greatest part of the right hemidiaphragm.Results: In group A, 10 subjects showed multiple or numerous ring-down artifacts and in group B, 2 subjects showed multiple ring-down artifacts; of these complete two, a subject, introduced to the radiological control, showed the presence of diffused accentuation of the bronco-vessel tree bilaterally of the pulmonary bases. Not in relief was the presence of radiographic alterations in any of the patients of group A, which did not underline meaningful ring-down artifacts (sensibility=76%, specificity=97%, PPV=91%).Conclusions: The presence of multiples (>5) or numerous (>10) ring-down artifacts posterior to the right hemidiaphragm on abdominal sonography, in our series of patients, was in discreet association with a specific pathology of the right pulmonary base: the sonography relief of such sign would be able to be of aid in the suspicion of pulmonary pathology to the right base in submitted subjects to liver sonography. Further clinical studies will be necessary to confirm our results on more numerous cases. Objective: During sonography examination of the liver, it is frequent to observe the presence of isolate ring-down artifacts that are projected on the posterior surface of the right hemidiaphragm. Such relief, if multiple and constant, may be in relationship to possible pathology of the right pulmonary base. Methods: We have appraised the presence of multiple ring-down artifacts on the posterior surface of the right hemidiaphragm in two consecutive groups of patients: 12 subjects (group A), 5 males, range in age from 38 to 72 years (mean 62 years), suffered from pulmonary pathology to the right base, documented from the standard thoracic radiography (6 with presence of non-specific interstitial pneumonia to the base and 5 with basal bronchopneumonia; absence in all of evident pleuric effusion), and 41 subjects (group B), 27 males, range in age from 21 to 61 years (mean 38 years), affected from viral chronic hepatitis submitted to thoracic radiography investigation after liver biopsy. It has been meaningful considering the contemporary and repeated presence of multiples (more than five and less than ten) or numerous (10 or more) ring-down artifacts in a scanning that understudied the greatest part of the right hemidiaphragm. Results: In group A, 10 subjects showed multiple or numerous ring-down artifacts and in group B, 2 subjects showed multiple ring-down artifacts; of these complete two, a subject, introduced to the radiological control, showed the presence of diffused accentuation of the bronco-vessel tree bilaterally of the pulmonary bases. Not in relief was the presence of radiographic alterations in any of the patients of group A, which did not underline meaningful ring-down artifacts (sensibility=76%, specificity=97%, PPV=91%). Conclusions: The presence of multiples (>5) or numerous (>10) ring-down artifacts posterior to the right hemidiaphragm on abdominal sonography, in our series of patients, was in discreet association with a specific pathology of the right pulmonary base: the sonography relief of such sign would be able to be of aid in the suspicion of pulmonary pathology to the right base in submitted subjects to liver sonography. Further clinical studies will be necessary to confirm our results on more numerous cases.