US in the emergency department: our experience and proposed resolution of a conflict between emergency medicine and academic radiology.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M E Pasto.
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Hand-held sonomammography was used intraoperatively to localize 52 masses in 45 women in an out patient operating suite. All but five women had a positive X-ray mammogram. The ultrasound mammogram was able to identify all lesions. In 42 women studied by a preoperative ultrasound examination before the operating room procedure, all the masses were successfully identified. Precise localization was successfully performed in the operating room before sterile preparation in less than 10 minutes. Relocalization after incision in the sterile operating field was necessary in two cases. This technique requires no ionizing radiation and expedites outpatient surgical removal of the lesion. Of the 52 masses, there were 32 fibroadenomas, three carcinomas, three cysts, six cases of focal fibrous mastitis, and eight patients with focal fibrocystic disease. In patients with positive sonograms for nonpalpable masses, ultrasound localization is a fast, accurate alternative to X-ray needle placement.
A retrospective study of 55 twin pregnancies was performed to determine the role of sonography in distinguishing between dichorionic and monochorionic diamniotic gestations solely by evaluating the thickness of the membrane between the fetuses. The presence of a thick dividing membrane indicated a dichorionic diamniotic gestation in 38 (90%) of 42 cases in which it was identified. Inability to identify a membrane between dichorionic diamniotic twins occurred most commonly during the third trimester. A thin membrane indicated monochorionic diamniotic twinning and was seen in three (25%) of 12 cases. Membrane thickness was indeterminate in one case. Therefore, on the basis of the thickness of the dividing membrane imaged by sonography, dichorionic diamniotic gestations can be distinguished from monochorionic diamniotic gestations. Inability to show a separating membrane by sonography, however, can occur with any form of twin gestation, particularly in the third trimester. Membrane thickness should be used in conjunction with other sonographic criteria to predict the amnionicity and chorionicity of twin gestations.
The increasing use and availability of renal transplantation has resulted in a demand for noninvasive methods to study possible complications. One of the most serious adverse reactions is acute rejection, a possibly reversible cause of transplant failure if treated promptly. Differentiation from other causes of acute renal failure frequently is difficult, and the lack of specificity in many imaging studies has been troublesome. Eighty-one patients with renal transplants, including 41 with acute rejection, were examined. Duplex Doppler examination of the intrarenal arteries and a simplified formula, the resistive index ([peak systolic frequency shift--lowest diastolic frequency shift]/[peak systolic frequency shift]), were used to diagnose rejection. With a resistive index greater than 0.90, a 100% positive predictive value was obtained for the diagnosis of acute rejection. A value less than 0.70 was unlikely to be rejection (negative predictive value, 94%). This approach uses a simple analysis of the waveform. Use of a duplex Doppler examination and the formula described here appears to be an accurate method for the detection of acute rejection and for the differentiation of acute rejection from the various other causes of acute renal failure.
The sonograms of 76 hemorrhagic ovarian cysts were reviewed to ascertain the full spectrum of sonographic findings. All cases were proved either by surgery or by documented resolution on sonography and/or clinical follow-up. The overwhelming majority (92%) had increased sound through-transmission, signifying the basic cystic nature of the lesion. The sonographic patterns were variable. The most common appearance was that of a heterogeneous mass (83%), almost half of which were predominantly anechoic with hypoechoic material. The other cases (17%) were completely homogeneous, either hypo- or hyperechoic. No masses were completely anechoic. Additional sonographic features included a thick rim, septations, and associated cul-de-sac fluid. A rounded hyperechoic mass, representing blood clot, was contained within 13 masses. In addition, some women appeared to have an increased tendency to form ovarian cysts, suggested by the fact that 26% of them had a past, concurrent, or future episode of simple or hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. Because hemorrhagic ovarian cysts have variable sonographic findings, they should be included in the differential diagnosis of any adnexal mass that has good sound through-transmission.
Sonographic abnormalities secondary to postasphyxial encephalopathy in neonates are reviewed. This report emphasizes an additional finding, increased echogenicity of the thalamus and basal ganglia, demonstrated in four term infants. This abnormal finding is generally noted in the second week following asphyxia. In some cases, the increased thalamic echogenicity may be a temporary finding. A representative case is described and possible pathologic correlates are discussed.
Since the early 1960s it has been possible to identify the fetal head using A-mode ultrasound. The introduction of high-resolution, real-time, gray-scale ultrasound in the mid-to-late 1970s first enabled the routine display of subtle internal anatomy. Using presently available equipment, the fetus can be imaged from 7 weeks after the last menstrual period until term and the internal anatomy of the fetal head can be detected after 11-12 weeks. The ultrasonic anatomy of the normal fetal head throughout the second and third trimesters is discussed, as are the normal changes taking place with growth.
Sonograms of 110 patients were compared to recently performed liver biopsies for evaluation of the accuracy of sonography in predicting the type (pattern) of pathology and its grade of severity (mild, moderate, or severe) in a wide variety of diffuse liver processes. There are two distinct, abnormal sonographic patterns: the fatty-fibrotic pattern seen primarily with cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and/or fatty infiltration, and the centrilobular pattern seen primarily with acute hepatitis. Sonography was 88% accurate in assigning the correct pattern to the corresponding pathology (sensitivity 89%, specificity 86%, p less than 0.001). The degree of accuracy was dependent on the grade of pathologic severity, with mild disease offering the greatest difficulty; moderate and severe diseases were accurately detected and placed in the correct pattern in all cases. Sonographic grading of the severity of disease was far less precise (63% overall). This study showed that sonography can distinguish between two abnormal sonographic patterns of diffuse benign liver disease as well as between normal and abnormal patterns.
Seven cases of heterozygous achondroplasia were examined in utero. Although the head shape and growth were normal, the initially normal femur length showed a decrease in growth and fell below the lower 99 per cent confidence limit in all cases. The time of presentation of achondroplasia varied between 21 and 27 gestational weeks. This study suggests that the diagnosis of achondroplasia can be reasonably made when the femur is abnormally short. When the femoral length is appropriate prior to 30 weeks, more caution should be taken in interpretation. Because of the variability in presentation, the fetus could be normal or still could be affected.
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Cranial ultrasound examinations were performed during the first 3 days of life and at age 1 month on 22 infants with the neonatal abstinence syndrome. The results were compared to those obtained in 15 control infants who were not exposed to narcotic drugs in utero. The ultrasound images were examined for ventricular configuration, intracranial hemidiameters, area of thalami, and width of temporal lobes. At 24 to 72 h and at 1 month of age, significantly more drug-exposed than control infants had a slit-like ventricular configuration. The intracranial hemidiameter was significantly smaller in the drug-exposed than in the control infants. All cerebral measurements except the right temporal lobe demonstrated significant growth over the first month of life in both groups of infants. By means of ancillary examinations (computerized tomography and transfontanel pressure measurements) the pathogenesis of the slit-like ventricles was found not to be related to edema or to increased intracranial pressure. Whether or not the ventricles remain small and brain growth remains parallel after the period of abstinence awaits further investigation.
Although percutaneous aspiration and drainage of abdominal abscesses will frequently avert an open surgical procedure, patients remain hospitalized during drainage. The authors treated 9 patients for abscesses using percutaneous drainage catheters and sent them home with the catheter in place. All had an uneventful recovery. An average of $12,050 was saved in each case. The authors suggest that outpatient drainage of abdominal abscesses is significantly less expensive than inpatient treatment, yet does not jeopardize patient care.
The use of scrotal ultrasonography has been advanced with the development of high-resolution real-time equipment. A group of 284 consecutive patients referred for scrotal examination was studied ultrasonically and followed over a three-year period. Abnormal scrotal contents were accurately detected in 98.5 per cent of cases. Separation of testicular from extratesticular pathology was 99 per cent accurate. While all malignant testicular lesions could be identified, there were examples which could not be differentiated from benign lesions prior to surgical exploration and biopsy. However, there are many examples where the ultrasound results can change clinical management of the patient.
Fourteen subjects with spinal cord pathology were studied with 10 MHz linear array or 5 MHz mechanical sector ultrasound scanners. Twelve patients were studied intraoperatively. The examinations were rapid, aiding the surgeon at the time of exploration. Sonography defined cysts, outlined the extent of neoplasia and aided in the localization of bone fragments. Guidance for placement of syringo -subarachnoid shunts reduced the amount of surgical manipulation. Four patients were examined postoperatively through laminectomy defects, three confirming adequate position and function of shunts and in one case demonstrating tumor recurrence.
High resolution real-time ultrasound examination of the abdomen was performed in a neonate with abdominal distention. Dilated distal small bowel and a complex mass in the course of the ascending colon were noted. Ultrasound correctly suggested the diagnosis of mid-colonic atresia with a patent ascending colon twelve hours prior to the radiographic demonstration of gas in the obstructed right colon. The sonogram was also able to accurately exclude the presence of ascites or a renal or hepatic mass as the cause for abdominal distention.
Thirty-six examples of inflammatory and neoplastic disease of the scrotum were evaluated with ultrasound. Analysis of the images suggests that sonographic differentiation of these conditions is possible in certain instances. The ability to separate testicular from extratesticular pathology is quite accurate. In some cases, neoplastic disease of the testis can be differentiated from malignancy, although surgical intervention is often required for diagnosis.
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Although real-time sonography is an excellent imaging modality for the neonatal brain, examination of the adult brain has been limited. Attempts to study the older subject through the ossified calvarium have resulted in poor quality and non-diagnostic images. Eighteen patients with various calvarial defects were examined for a variety of intracranial abnormalities. A mechanical sector scanner was used. Disease was clearly defined and accurate correlation with computed tomography resulted. Subjects without intracranial disease and patients with cerebral atrophy, porencephalic cysts, hydrocephalus, hematomas, and neoplasia were included in this study. The midline structures, ventricles and proximal midbrain structures were clearly visualized. This procedure appears useful to evaluate changes in the size of the ventricles and intracerebral masses in the postoperative patient.