Power Doppler Ultrasound Findings Research Articles

Three-dimensional Doppler sonographic vascular imaging in regions with increased MR enhancement in inflamed wrists of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To compare three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) with contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in their capability to visualize synovial vascularity in inflamed wrists of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Nine patients with RA showing clinically active arthritis of the wrist as determined by tenderness and swelling were examined by contrast enhanced MRI and 3D PDUS. Vascularity close to and inside the joint capsule was visualized by conventional power Doppler mode. In a region with high Doppler signal intensity (= region of interest/ROI) a 3D blood vessel tree was obtained by a free-hand sweep. 3D images were evaluated with regard to the number of blood vessels in the intra- and peri-articular region. MRI examinations were performed using a 1.5 T Scanner. In MRI, time resolved coronal contrast enhanced T1-weighted sequences with fat suppression were acquired during an 8 min period to assess tissue enhancement. Relative enhancement was calculated and compared to 3D PDUS findings. Results A 3D vascular tree consisting of peri- and intra-articular blood vessels could be demonstrated in the same anatomical ROI in which an increased gadolinium enhancement was measured by MRI in all examined RA patients. The number of penetrating vessels into the joint capsule, the number of intra-articular vessels and a semiquantitative estimation of the strength of blood flow were used to generate a 3D score for the intensity of synovial vascularity. Conclusion When compared with clinical symptoms and the gold standard dynamic MRI, 3D PDUS is a reliable imaging technique for assessing synovial vascularity in inflamed wrists of RA patients.

The usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography in differentiating primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon

The objectives of this study were to assess a usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) and compare the diagnostic value of PDU to nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) in the patients with clinically diagnosed Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and healthy controls. Forty-one patients with primary (n=19), secondary RP (n=22), and ten healthy controls underwent PDU and NFC examinations on the same day. Microvascularity was evaluated using PDU before and after cold challenges, and the PDU signals were qualitatively graded on a scale of 1-4. According to the change of microvascularity before and after cold challenges, the findings of PDU were classified into three groups: (1) 'pattern I' (normal microvascularity over grade 3 both before and after cold challenges), (2) 'pattern II' (decreased microvascularity to grade 1 or 2 only after cold challenge), and (3) 'pattern III' (decreased microvascularity of grade 1 or 2 both before and after cold challenges). PDU confirmed the presence of RP in all patients with clinically diagnosed RP and yielded a correct classification in 88.9% of the all persons analyzed (normal=100%, primary RP=89.5%, secondary RP=77.3%). The analysis was performed to assess the degree of agreement between the final diagnoses obtained by PDU and NFC. A good correlation rate was observed between PDU and NFC examinations in differentiating primary from secondary RP (Kappa=0.658, p<0.01). In conclusion, PDU examination with a cold challenge is a useful and reliable method to diagnose RP and discriminate between primary and secondary RP.

B‐mode and power Doppler sonographic findings in the long bicipital tendon in ankylosing spondylitis

AbstractObjectives: The aim of this study was to assess B‐mode and power Doppler ultrasound findings of long head of biceps tendon in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods: Anthropometric measurements were carried out and disease activity and functional status were evaluated with BASDAI, BASFI, Dougados Functional Index (DFI) and Articular Index (DAI) in 30 patients with AS. The Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) was performed. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured on bilateral long head of biceps tendon and B‐mode and power Doppler ultrasound were carried out. Focal changes (hypoechogenic areas within the tendon), calcification of the tendon, and fluid collection inside or outside the tendon sheath at bicipital groove (peritendinous hypoechoic rim) and vascularity of the peritendinous region were assessed. A cumulative ultrasound score (CUSS) was obtained.Results: Focal changes were present in five tendons of four patients. Calcification of the tendon was present in three tendons of three patients. Biceps tendon sheath effusion (peritendinous hypoechoic rim) was observed in 10 tendons of eight patients. Thirteen tendons of eight patients had discernible flow signals, six were inside the tendon sheath (within the hypoechoic rim) and seven were outside the tendon sheath. Cumulative US score correlated significantly with DFI and ESR. There was not a significant correlation between CUSS and total PPT.Conclusion: Ultrasound examination of the long head of biceps tendon gives detailed information of the tendon and PDUS has the potential to be able to show inflammatory activity of the tendon.

Contrast-enhanced power Doppler US in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Introduction/ objective: To determine the value of power Doppler (PD) ultrasonography (US) and contrast-enhanced power Doppler (CEPD) US in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the prediction of histopathologic stages. Methods and material: 50 patients with suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated by the same radiologist with PD US and CEPD US. Air micro bubbles stabilized by a granulate of “galactose and palmitic acid” were used as a contrast medium for sonography with the concentration of 400 mg/ml. PD US and CEPD US results were later correlated with the surgical and histopathologic findings. PD US and CEPD US findings were considered positive for appendicitis; if there was depiction of hyperemia in the wall of the appendix or if there was depiction of prominent peripheral vascularity when compared with normal soft tissues; and negative if both hyperemia and peripheral hyperemia were not prominent. Results and discussions: Of the 50 patients, 35 patients had histopathologically proven acute appendicitis. CEPD US showed prominent hyperemia in the appendiceal vessels or feeding vessels of the inflamed appendix, and resistance index (RI) calculations were easier. There was statistically significant difference between mean RI values of the normal appendix, suppurative appendicitis and gangrenous appendicitis. PD US has accuracy of 80%, sensitivity of 74% and CEPD US has 98%, and 100% in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. CEPD US identified 100% of suppurative appendicitis and gangrenous appendicitis. Conclusion: CEPD US is a promising method in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and determination of the inflammation stage.

Power Doppler Ultrasonography for the Assessment of Vascular Invasion by Pancreatic Cancer

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of power Doppler ultrasonography (US) in assessing the vascular invasion by pancreatic cancer. Methods: A prospective study of 40 consecutive patients with pancreatic cancer (head 35, body 5) was performed. All patients underwent surgery. The relationships between tumor and each vessel were classified into four types according to the closest circumferential contact of the tumor with the vessel. A type 0 indicated no contact; type 1 indicated less than one third contact; type 2 indicated one third to 99% contact, and type 3 indicated encasement. Vascular invasion was diagnosed in types 2 and 3. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated in the portal vein and in the splanchnic arteries (celiac artery, common hepatic artery, and superior mesenteric artery). The power Doppler US findings were confirmed by the operative findings. The results of power Doppler US were compared with those of CT scan and angiography. Results: Portal vein invasion was confirmed in resected specimens in 23 cases and by operative findings in 5 cases. For the diagnosis of portal vein invasion, sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of power Doppler US were, respectively, 79.3, 90.9, and 82.5%. The respective values were 79.3, 100, and 85% for CT and 72.4, 81.8, and 75% for angiography. For the diagnosis of arterial invasion, sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of power Doppler US were 80, 92, and 90%, respectively. The corresponding values were 47, 88, and 73% for CT and 47, 100, and 80% for angiography. Conclusion: Power Doppler US proved to be useful for the diagnosis of vascular invasion by pancreatic cancer.

The usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography for diagnosing prostate cancer: histological correlation of each biopsy site.

To correlate the findings of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) of the prostate with those of site-specific transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided biopsy. The study comprised 28 patients referred to our institution for TRUS-guided prostate biopsy because of an elevated PSA level and/or abnormal digital rectal examination. PDUS findings were graded 0, 1 or 2; grades 0-1 were considered as negative and grade 2 as positive. The blood volume of each biopsy site was also determined using the mean number (MN) value that represents the average vascularity in a 5-mm square sample. PDUS values were correlated with the histological findings of 147 biopsies with 19 focal lesions. Grade 2 was assigned to 19 sites, grade 1 to 52 sites, and grade 0 to 76 sites. Fourteen of the 19 PDUS findings of grade 2 sites revealed carcinoma and five were grade 1. Ten of 35 TRUS-positive sites were carcinomas, three benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 22 normal. The MN value for prostatic carcinoma was 4.33, for BPH 11.7 and for normal tissue 4.7. The overall sensitivity of PDUS was 74%, the specificity 96% and the positive predictive value 74%. Because TRUS alone cannot detect all cancers, PDUS should be used routinely in all patients undergoing TRUS-guided biopsy, to improve the diagnostic yield of prostate cancer.

Haemodynamic evaluation of the first trimester fetus with special emphasis on venous return.

Knowledge of the fetal circulation is a prerequisite for understanding the physiological behaviour of the developing fetus. In this overview dealing with Colour and Power Doppler ultrasound findings in the first trimester of pregnancy and its pathophysiological background, we aim to report on the methodological aspects, normal blood flow waveform patterns, normal reference values for haemodynamic parameters and potential clinical applications for both arterial and venous flow information (umbilical artery, descending aorta, middle cerebral artery, umbilical vein, inferior vena cava, ductus venosus) and atrioventricular valves. Particular emphasis is devoted to the venous return to the heart. Alterations in venous waveforms, particularly in the ductus venosus, are correlated with the pathophysiology of some fetal diseases and are suggested as a promising tool for the screening of cardiac impairment and as an alternative method for fetal biophysical surveillance.

Power Doppler Ultrasound Findings of Renal Infarct after Experimental Renal Artery Occlusion: Comparison withSpiral CT

Power Doppler Ultrasound Findings of Renal Infarct after Experimental Renal Artery Occlusion: Comparison withSpiral CT