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Marielle Fortier

Publications and source records attributed to Marielle Fortier.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A screening program to identify risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to explore the feasibility of a nurse-supervised aneurysm screening program to identify any independent risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation in high-risk patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of 90 male patients in a university- affiliated hospital in southern Ontario. The patients were prospectively evaluated and all underwent abdominal ultrasonography, with the main outcome measure being detection of an AAA. RESULTS: AAAs were identified in 18 patients (20%) and had a mean diameter of 3.6 (range 2.8-6.0) cm. A separate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the presence of an aneurysm. The presence of carotid artery disease proved to be the only statistically significant independent predictor of the presence of AAA (odds ratio 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.76-2.56). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the feasibility of a nurse-supervised AAA screening program, and on the basis of these results we recommend ultrasonographic screening for AAA in patients with a history of carotid artery disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Three dimensional transrectal ultrasound imaging of the prostate: initial experience with an emerging technology.

PURPOSE: A three-dimensional ultrasound system (3-D US) was evaluated for its clinical utility in transrectal prostate imaging, in comparison with the current standard 2-dimensional transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) imaging system. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The computer program developed in our laboratory was coupled with a commercially available ultrasound transducer. Geometric validation and volumetric assessment was performed with "stretched-string" wire models and solution-containing balloons respectively. Anatomic correlation of 3-D TRUS images was performed with cadaveric prostates. Intraprostatic lesion localization by 3D-TRUS was assessed clinically by 2 observers in 11 patients prior to radical prostatectomy and the data compared with those yielded by 2-D TRUS. RESULTS: Geometric assessment by 3D TRUS in comparison with the "between strings in the phantom" model (true dimensions) had an error of up to 1.2%. Volume measurement by 3-D TRUS had an error, compared to the true volume, of 0.9%. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.99985 for the end-firing probe and 0.978 for side firing. The 3-D images provided accurate representation of the true anatomy in the sagittal, transverse and most uniquely, the coronal plane. Two observers achieved better diagnostic accuracies with intraprostatic abnormalities using 3-D instead of standard 2-D TRUS. The negative predictive value and the specificity were improved. CONCLUSION: 3-D TRUS appears to provided accurate representation of the true anatomy with geometric and volumetric validation. Areas of potential clinical application of 3-D TRUS include treatment monitoring with volume measurements and various intervention and therapeutic procedures for both benign and malignant prostatic disorders.

Journal Article↗