Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of US contrast agent in ultrasonographic investigation of early diagnosis and staging of vesico-ureteral reflux. Methods and Materials: One hundredtwentytwo patients suffering of pyelocaliceal dilatation,urinary tract infections and miscellaneous diseases underwent voiding color Doppler US, followed by a cystourethrographic test. The voiding color Doppler US consists in trans-catheter introduction of a contrast agent (Levovist, Schering, AG,Berlin) into the bladder and a subsequent test with the color Doppler US to show or exclude the presence of reflux. After the introduction of the US contrast agent superpubic scans of the bladder, ureters and pielo-caliceal cavity were performed in order to evaluate reflux degree. The ultrasonographic investigations were performed with the AU 5 IDEA scan (Esaote) with a 3,5MHz convex probe. Results: In 118 patients we observed a superimposibility of results between voiding color Doppler US and cystourethrographic test (4 false positives): sensitivity 100%, specificity 90%. Conclusions: According to the data obtained, voiding color Doppler US could be used as an alternative technique to the cystourethrographic test because of the lack of risks due to ionizing radiations.
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Schedule a callMore From: Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound
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