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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Effect of ultrasound contrast medium in color Doppler and power Doppler visualization of blood flow in canine kidneys.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of an ultrasound contrast medium (UCM) in the visualization of parenchymal blood flow by means of color Doppler and power Doppler sonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nonenhanced and UCM-enhanced Doppler images of canine kidneys were obtained in a transversal plane during various states of flow reduction in the anterior branch of the renal artery. The UCM consisted of air-filled shell-stabilized microballoons (half-life approximately 2 min). The images were evaluated blindly by 4 observers who rated the amount of flow signal in the cortex and medulla, and categorized the flow state (normal, reduced or no flow) in the anterior part of the kidney. RESULTS: The UCM increased the area of Doppler signals in the cortex and outer medulla during normal or reduced blood flow. The border between nonperfused and normally perfused parenchyma was more distinct with the UCM. The categorization of the regional flow state was more correct with the UCM. Improvement with the UCM was greatest when the nonenhanced Doppler images had suboptimal intensity, but positive effects with the UCM were also seen in recordings with adequate precontrast intensity. Color blooming artifacts sometimes occurred on the side of the kidney facing away from the transducer. CONCLUSION: The UCM improved the color Doppler and power Doppler visualization of the parenchymal blood flow in the canine kidney, and allowed a more correct categorization to be made of the regional blood flow state.

Air↗

PubMed1994

Validity of continuous wave Doppler and colour Doppler in the assessment of aortic regurgitation.

Continuous wave Doppler, colour Doppler, and their combined use were compared for their validity in the semiquantitative evaluation of aortic regurgitation in 80 angiographically proven cases. The diastolic decay slope, as measured from the continuous wave Doppler signal of the aortic regurgitation, correlated well with angiographic data (r = 0.82) and, after classification in three grades, coincided in 78% of all patients. When rated on a three-grade scale the intensity of the aortic regurgitation signal measured by continuous wave Doppler corresponded with invasive data in 82% of patients, and a three-graded maximal width at the base of the colour Doppler regurgitant jet relative to the aortic outflow tract showed agreement in 71%. The best results were obtained by combining continuous wave and colour Doppler indices, which yielded agreement with angiography in 85% of patients. Subdivision of the patient group into those with pure aortic regurgitation and those with combined aortic lesions revealed less accurate gradings with both Doppler methods in the presence of aortic stenosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[The application of Doppler broadening and Doppler shift to spectral analysis].

The distinction between Doppler broadening and Doppler shift has analyzed, Doppler broadening locally results from the distribution of velocities of the emitting particles, the line width gives the information on temperature of emitting particles. Doppler shift results when the emitting particles have a bulk non random flow velocity in a particular direction, the drift of central wavelength gives the information on flow velocity of emitting particles, and the Doppler shift only drifts the profile of line without changing the width. The difference between Gaussian fitting and the distribution of chord-integral line shape have also been discussed. The distribution of H alpha spectral line shape has been derived from the surface of limiter in HT-6M Tokamak with optical spectroscope multichannel analysis (OSMA), the result by double Gaussian fitting shows that the line shape make up of two port, the emitting of reflect particles with higher energy and the release particle from the limiter surface. Ion temperature and recycling particle flow velocity have been obtained from Doppler broadening and Doppler shift.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed1995

[Doppler echography and color Doppler echography in the assessment of the vascular functional aspects of medical nephropathies].

This study was aimed at finding a Doppler parameter to distinguish, among medical nephropathies, the ones with glomerular from those with vascular or tubulointerstitial involvement. Therefore, 32 patients (20 men and 10 women, average age: 43 years, range: 10-77 years) with clinical and laboratory signs of medical renal disease were examined with color-Doppler US. The resistive index (RI, n.v. < 0.70), as calculated from the Doppler waveform signal was especially considered to assess eventual significant changes differentiating renal diseases according to the different kinds of involvement. RI values were compared with renal biopsy findings, creatininemia levels and clinical and laboratory variables as hematuria and proteinuria. Histology diagnosed 18 glomerulonephritis, 4 glomerulonephritis with interstitial involvement and 10 vascular and tubulointerstitial nephroses, with 1 tubular necrosis. Doppler US demonstrated a normal RI value in 17/18 patients with glomerulonephrosis (mean value: 0.59 +/- 0.05). In one case only, even though biopsy indicated the involvement of one glomerulus only (membranous GN II stage), RI was high--i.e., 0.79. In 4 patients with simultaneous glomerular and interstitial involvement, the mean RI value was 0.17 +/- 0.01. In the 10 cases of tubulointerstitial or vascular nephrosis, the RI was 0.83 +/- 0.07. As far as the correlation between creatininemia levels and RI is concerned, in 8 patients with high values (1.5-8 mg/dl), the mean RI was 0.72 +/- 0.08 and only a weak correlation was found between the RI and the renal failure degree as expressed by creatininemia levels. Therefore, the RI seems to be related more to the site of the disease in the renal field than to renal failure degree. Doppler US seems to be capable of characterizing medical nephrosis, distinguishing glomerular from vascular or tubulointerstitial involvement. In this application area, the combined use of Doppler and color-Doppler US allowed each examination to be performed in a relatively short time--i.e., 30 minutes on the average.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Power Doppler imaging of focal lesions of the gastrointestinal tract: comparison with conventional color Doppler imaging.

To compare the usefulness of power Doppler imaging and color Doppler imaging in the vascular evaluation of gastrointestinal lesions, 21 patients with focal gastrointestinal tract lesions were examined with both power and color Doppler imaging. Two reviewers blinded to the diagnosis compared intramural vascularity detected by each of these methods. Power Doppler imaging detected flow in 16 patients with nonischemic lesions, whereas color Doppler imaging detected flow in only 11 patients. Neither modality detected flow in three patients with transmural infarction, but only power Doppler imaging detected minimal flow in the two patients with reversible ischemia. Power Doppler imaging improves visualization of intramural gastrointestinal vascularity, increasing the level of confidence in differentiating ischemic from nonischemic lesions.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Vector Doppler imaging of a spinning disc ultrasound Doppler phantom.

Vector Doppler methods are used to obtain angle independent in-plane velocity information. Velocity magnitude as well as direction are reconstructed from regular steered colour flow and from split-aperture Doppler acquisitions. Spatially resolved in-plane velocity was obtained through Doppler colour flow mode and subsequent data triangulation. A depth-invariant constant Doppler angle was achieved by using a depth expanding transmit-receive Doppler aperture. Velocities of up to 50 cm s(-1) and 360 degrees vector velocity directions were measured. This was achieved by creating a spinning solid disc phantom. Such a phantom was built to allow underwater mounting and spinning of a solid disc-shaped ultrasound phantom (maximum velocity of 50 cm s-1). Doppler triangulation was realised by steered Doppler and by a split-aperture approach. Results of both imaging methods are shown. Split-aperture results showed errors of less then 10% for velocity magnitude estimation and less then 2.5 degrees for directional information.

Humans↗

PubMed1995

Colour Doppler ultrasound in renal transplant artery stenosis: which Doppler index?

A prospective study comparing colour Doppler ultrasound (US) with the 'gold standard' of intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography in the evaluation of renal transplant artery stenosis was performed. Both the intrarenal vessels and the transplant renal artery were examined by Doppler US. Diagnostic arteriography was performed only if, on Doppler, the peak systolic velocity in the transplant renal artery exceeded 1.5 ms-1. Of 109 patients, the transplant artery could not be visualized using colour Doppler US in three, and these were omitted from statistical analysis. Of the remaining 106 patients, 31 had a peak systolic velocity greater than 1.5 ms-1 in the transplant renal artery and were referred for DSA. Of the multiple renal Doppler indices recorded, the peak systolic velocity in the transplant artery was the best discriminating measurement for the detection of renal artery stenosis. A peak systolic velocity of > or = 2.5 ms-1 in the transplant renal artery had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95% for the detection of renal artery stenosis ( > 50% diameter reduction). Although a significant difference in Pulsatility Index, Resistive Index, Acceleration Index and Acceleration Time was recorded from the intrarenal vessels in the angiographically normal and stenosed groups with Doppler, these measurements were less useful as discriminating diagnostic tests. In conclusion, the peak systolic velocity in the transplant renal artery is the most sensitive Doppler criterion for renal artery stenosis and is sensitive and specific enough to be used as a screening test. The intrarenal acceleration time and index should not be used in isolation.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

PubMed2004

[Doppler ultrasound and aortic regurgitation. Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of Doppler findings].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of arterial Doppler findings of aortic regurgitation to assess if the amplitude of changes of Doppler tracings can accurately quantify the degree of regurgitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed and compared the arterial Doppler tracings and echocardiograms of 250 patients. RESULTS: Even if the obvious pitfall of vascular stenoses is avoided, the global sensitivity of arterial Doppler findings for aortic regurgitation remains weak (30%). However, our study demonstrates that it can reach 100% if only significant AR (> or =2/4) is taken into account. Since the clear false-positive cases have been carefully excluded from the very start, the specificity of the classical criteria already proves excellent (above 95%). It will reach perfection if additional simple criteria gathered from the data mentioned in this study are considered. Quantifying precisely the degree of aortic regurgitation on the basis of arterial Doppler tracings is impossible. Nevertheless, we show that it is easy to identify significant AR (> or =2/4) that should be further assessed with echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Arterial Doppler sonography is unable to detect all cases of aortic regurgitation but those that are overlooked are not significant (1/4). If AR signs happen to be detected by arterial Doppler, the amplitude of the leak cannot be accurately determined based on tracing analysis. Yet, simple criteria will indicate whether it is important enough (> or =2/4) to require complementary echocardiogram, with well documented accuracy for morphological and hemodynamic evaluation.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

PubMed2001

Effects of transducer, velocity, Doppler angle, and instrument settings on the accuracy of color Doppler ultrasound.

The accuracy of a commercial color Doppler ultrasound (US) system was assessed in vitro using a rotating torus phantom. The phantom consisted of a thin rubber tube filled with a blood-mimicking fluid, joined at the ends to form a torus. The torus was mounted on a disk suspended in water, and rotated at constant speeds by a motor. The torus fluid was shown in a previous study to rotate as a solid body, so that the actual fluid velocity was dependent only on the motor speed and sample volume radius. The fluid velocity could, thus, be easily compared to the color Doppler-derived velocity. The effects of instrument settings, velocity and the Doppler angle was assessed in four transducers: a 2.0-MHz phased-array transducer designed for cardiac use, a 4.0-MHz curved-array transducer designed for general thoracic use, and two linear transducers designed for vascular use (one 4.0 MHz and one 6.0 MHz). The color Doppler accuracy was found to be significantly dependent on the transducer used, the pulse-repetition frequency and wall-filter frequency, the actual fluid velocity and the Doppler angle (p < 0.001 by analysis of variance). In particular, the phased array and curved array were observed to be significantly more accurate than the two linear arrays. The torus phantom was found to provide a sensitive measure of color Doppler accuracy. Clinicians need to be aware of these effects when performing color Doppler US exams.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed2002

Synovial tissue of the hip at power Doppler US: correlation between vascularity and power Doppler US signal.

PURPOSE: To correlate power Doppler ultrasonographic (US) findings of the vascularity of synovial tissue of the hip joint with the results of histopathologic examination of the same tissue to assess the value of power Doppler US in the visualization of synovitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hip joints of 24 patients with osteoarthritis (n = 15) or rheumatoid arthritis (n = 9) of the hip joint were examined with US before arthroplasty. The vascularity of the synovial membrane was classified qualitatively by using power Doppler US. During surgery, a section of the synovial tissue examined at power Doppler US preoperatively was resected. The vascularity of the tissue specimen was investigated and graded qualitatively by a pathologist who was not aware of the US findings. Visual qualitative grading was controlled by means of analysis of the US images and histopathologic specimens with a digital image evaluation system. Correlations between power Doppler US and histopathologic examination findings were calculated by using Spearman rank correlation and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS: The correlation between the qualitative power Doppler US results and the qualitative vascularity grades was 0.92 (P <.01, Spearman rho). The correlation between quantitative and qualitative results was 0.93 (P <.01, Spearman rho) for US imaging and 0.97 (P <.01, Spearman rho) for histopathologic examination. CONCLUSION: Study results showed power Doppler US to be reliable for qualitative grading of the vascularity of synovial tissue of the hip.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Clinical usefulness of the Doppler-echocardiographic method for evaluating intracardiac shunts. Combined Doppler and hemodynamic study].

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a quantitative two-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic method for estimating systemic and pulmonary blood flows in atrial and ventricular septal defects. Twenty-eight patients (mean age 22 +/- 14), with atrial septal defect (ADS) or ventricular septal defect (VSD) underwent Doppler-echocardiography and cardiac catheterization in order to assess pulmonary blood flow (QP), systemic blood flow (QS), the left to right shunt (SH) and the ratio of pulmonary to systemic flow (QP/QS ratio). Cardiac output was also determined by the oximetry method according to Fick principle. Pulmonary output assessed by Doppler was 7.9 +/- 0.61/min, by catheterization 9.0 +/- 3.9. Linear regression analysis showed a low correlation coefficient (r = 0.10; p = NS). Systemic output evaluated by Doppler resulted 4.6 +/- 1.4 l/m, while at catheterization 5.1 +/- 1.5 l/min (r = 0.25; p = NS). Doppler evaluation of left-to right shunt was 3.3 +/- 1.5 l/min, at catheterization 3.9 +/- 3.1 (r = 0.74; p less than 0.001). Doppler QP/QS ratio resulted 1.7 +/- 0.5, at catheterization 1.8 +/- 0.5 (r = 0.96; p less than 0.0010. The results showed that, in spite of the lack of correlation between the pulmonary and systemic outputs assessed by Doppler vs catheterization, QP/QS ratio, as well as SH, are useful noninvasive indexes in order to evaluate intracardiac shunts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Comparison of continuous-wave Doppler imaging, oculopneumoplethysmography, and the cerebrovascular Doppler examination.

Previous reports of continuous-wave Doppler imaging have combined that technique with periorbital Doppler studies. In the present report, 75 patients with findings suggestive of cerebrovascular insufficiency were evaluated using continuous-wave Doppler imaging, oculopneumoplethysmography (OPG-G) and the cerebrovascular Doppler examination (CDE). Each test was interpreted independently. Doppler imaging had an overall accuracy of 85%, with a 68% accuracy in identifying 50-70% stenoses and a 69% accuracy in identifying high-grade stenoses (greater than 70%) and occlusion. OPG-G had an overall accuracy of 85%, with a 55% sensitivity for 50-70% stenoses and an 89% sensitivity for high-grade stenoses and occlusion. The CDE had an overall accuracy of 84% and a 50% sensitivity for stenoses of 50-70% and an 88% sensitivity for high-grade stenoses and occlusion. As an independent technique, continuous-wave Doppler imaging achieves an overall accuracy comparable to that of OPG-G or the CDE. Its sensitivity to high-grade stenosis and occlusion, however, is less than that of the other techniques. Since CDE and OPG-G had a 94% sensitivity to carotid occlusion and a combined sensitivity to high-grade stenoses and occlusion of 88% and 89%, respectively, their combined use with Doppler imaging offers sensitivity to and differentiation of stenoses from occlusion.

Carotid Artery Diseases↗

PubMed1998

[The utility of various Doppler parameters at rest and during exercise for the diagnosis of residual stenosis after operation for aortic coarctation. A doppler-nuclear magnetic resonance comparison].

BACKGROUND: The postoperative follow-up of aortic coarctation (AoCo) is often characterized by persistent arterial hypertension, sometimes due to a residual narrowing at the site of surgical repair. A residual stenosis > or = 30% is considered to be significant. Anatomy of the aortic arch is best assessed by angiography, transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The use of these invasive and expensive procedures for routine examination in all patients who develop late systemic hypertension cannot be justified. Consequently, it would appear to be useful to find some noninvasive methods, such as Doppler gradients, that are capable of identifying any residual anatomic narrowing. OBJECTIVES: We compared different Doppler parameters obtained at rest and during exercise with the degree of narrowing at the site of surgical repair measured by MRI, in order to identify the indices predictive of residual stenosis. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (26 M, 13 F) were studied after AoCo repair. Mean age was 21.7 +/- 9.7 years (9-49). Their age at the time of repair was 10 +/- 9.7 years (0.1-27) and the postoperative follow-up was 11.5 +/- 6 years (2-25). Systolic blood pressure measurement and Doppler echo for calculation of the transisthmic gradient at rest and during exercise on a bicycle ergometer were performed in all patients. The peak systolic gradient (PGs) over the isthmus was calculated using the simplified Bernoulli equation: PGs = 4 x (V2(2)-V1(2)), where V1 and V2 are the peak velocities in the ascending and descending aorta. In addition, at the end of exercise the peak diastolic gradient (PGd) was measured at the end of the T wave on the ECG, and the systolic velocity half-time (SVHT), as the time interval from the peak to the half peak systolic velocity. MRI of the aorta was performed to measure the diameter of the isthmus (AI) and of the descending aorta at the diaphragm (DA). Residual narrowing at the isthmus was expressed as stenosis % = [(1-(AI/DA)]%. RESULTS: At rest: systolic blood pressure 128.3 +/- 22.5 mmHg, PGs 15.9 +/- 8.1 mmHg (1-32). None of the patients had PGd. At peak exercise: systolic blood pressure 207 +/- 37 (160-265) mmHg, PGs 32.3 +/- 14.7 mmHg (8-70), SVHT 96 +/- 23 msec (60-139) and PGd 7.2 +/- 4.8 mmHg (1-17). Stenosis % measured by MRI was 23.1 +/- 14.5% (0-53) and in particular, it was < 30% in 25 patients and > or = 30% in 14 patients. Both the PGs at rest and the other Doppler parameters at peak exercise (PGs, SVHT, PGd) correlated with stenosis %. SVHT together with PGd on exercise Doppler represented the combination of two variables that was best for predicting a residual stenosis. When all three variables obtained by exercise Doppler were combined, every patient with residual stenosis was correctly identified. In particular, the combination (PGs > or = 28 mmHg + SVHT > or = 108 msec + PGd > or = 8 mmHg) identifies all patients with stenosis > or = 30%, while the combination (PGs < or = 38 mmHg + SVHT < 108 msec + PGd < 10 mmHg) excluded those with significant stenosis. CONCLUSION: Parameters obtained from the transisthmic gradient (PGs, SVHT, PGd) measured at peak exercise by CW-Doppler can diagnose a residual stenosis % in operated AoCo. We propose using this noninvasive method of identifying patients who need to be referred for MRI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Laser Doppler flowmetry, transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements and Doppler pressure compared in patients undergoing amputation.

The level of amputation continues to present a challenge for surgeons. In view of this, 24 patients who required an amputation of their ischaemic leg were studied prospectively using Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), TcpO2 measurements and Doppler ultrasound to assess the best level for amputation. In all patients gangrene of the leg and rest pain were the indication for an amputation. Skin oxygen tension (TcpO2) and skin blood flow (LDF) measurements were obtained the day before surgery on the proposed anterior and posterior skin flaps for below knee amputation and the maximum Doppler systolic pressure was measured. The level of amputation was chosen at surgery by clinical judgement without reference to the measurements mentioned above. A below knee amputation was performed in 17 patients and an above knee in seven. All amputations healed by primary intention. Doppler pressures showed poor discrimination with a median value of 10 mmHg (0-25) in AK patients and 35 mmHg (0-85) in the BK group (p greater than 0.05). In contrast TcpO2 showed a trend. In the BK group the median value was 20 mmHg (4-50) on the anterior and 22 mmHg (2-60) on the posterior flap compared to above knee amputees with median values of 6 mmHg (2-11) and 8 mmHg (3-38), respectively (p greater than 0.05). Laser Doppler seemed more useful. In BK patients the median LDF values were 36 mV (20-85) on the anterior and 34 mV (20-80) on the posterior flap with median LDF values of 10 mV (10-18) on the anterior and 11 mV (8-38) on the posterior flap in the above knee group (p less than 0.01). Laser Doppler flowmetry is a simple objective test, which is a better discriminator of skin flap perfusion than either TcpO2 or Doppler ankle pressures.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

[Catheter-induced femoral artery lesions: diagnosis with B-mode ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound].

A total of 44 patients were evaluated to compare the value of B-mode sonography, Doppler sonography and colour coded Doppler sonography. All patients were studied because of suspected lesions of the femoral arteries following diagnostic and/or therapeutic cardiac catheterisation. B-mode sonography was unable to reliably differentiate between haematoma and pseudo-aneurysms, a.v.-fistula or combined lesions. Colour coded Doppler sonography can better demonstrate haematoma and thrombi in pseudo-aneurysms. The neck of a pseudoaneurysm can be exactly depicted by colour coded Doppler sonography. A.v.-fistula is shown by colour coded Doppler sonography based on typical colour coding and the Doppler spectrum. Combined lesions of pseudo-aneurysm and a.v.-fistula cannot reliably be detected by colour coded Doppler sonography, duplex sonography and B-mode sonography.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Vascular pathology of urologic significance: Doppler and color Doppler].

The combined use of B-mode ultrasonography and doppler (p.w. and/or color doppler) provides a more accurate and detailed study of vascular pathology than B-mode ultrasonography alone. In fact, besides to document the presence of blood flow and to assess its direction, doppler US provides a quantitative evaluation of blood flow. Chromatic codification of blood flow (usually red if flowing towards the probe, blue if flowing away from the probe and yellow or green in the case of turbulence) permits to assess the presence of blood flow even in areas where a vessel cannot be depicted by B-mode ultrasonography. In fact in the study of blood flow to the kidney it's possible with color-doppler to visualize not only the main renal arteries but segmental-intraparenchymal arteries too; that is very useful in the detection of rejection of allograft. In renal artery, blood flow presents a pattern of low resistance: a brief systolic phase followed by a longer diastolic one, without inversion of flow. In renal vein, blood flow is, on the contrary, continuous. The main disorders of the kidney and urinary tract, which can be detected by color doppler are the following: renal-vascular hypertension, rejection of allograft, renal vein thrombosis, portal hypertension with spleno-renal collateral channels, disorders of ureteral motility, space occupying lesions, medical nephropathies and obstructive uropathies. Sophisticated analysis of the flow pattern to the kidney with color doppler, by some doppler sonographic parameters (resistance index RI, pulsatility index PI), in these disorders adds a functional element to the traditional ultrasonographic imaging with a better characterization of the disease.

Graft Rejection↗

PubMed1989

[The value of color Doppler studies to conventional cardiac Doppler studies].

Colour Doppler is a recent and important development among non-invasive diagnostic techniques in cardiology. A series of 500 adults has been studied in order to define the contribution made by colour Doppler to conventional Doppler. After elimination of patients with normal echo Doppler studies, colour Doppler contribution has been considered useful in 51% of the cases and was essential in 13%. Main contributions have been noted in valvular regurgitations, multiple valvular lesions, prosthetic valves and congenital cardiopathies. Colour Doppler appears as an useful, but not as an indispensable complement to conventional Doppler in adult cardiology.

Color↗

PubMed2002

Comparison of B-mode and conventional colour/power Doppler ultrasound, contrast-enhanced Doppler ultrasound and spiral CT in the diagnosis of focal lesions of the liver: Results of a multicentre study.

AIM: In patients with lesions of the liver we compared diagnoses based on different methods of ultrasound as well as spiral CT with the final diagnosis reached at the time of the patient's discharge from hospital. METHOD: From records of a prospective multicentre study including 90 liver lesions investigated with B-mode baseline and conventional colour/power Doppler ultrasound, contrast-enhanced colour/power Doppler ultrasound and spiral-CT, we evaluated only those where diagnoses for all modalities were available, and where the diagnosis at discharge comprising all clinical, laboratory and imaging data as well as histologic proof was at least "highly probable". RESULTS: 60 lesions met the inclusion criteria. 20 lesions were ultimately diagnosed as benign, and 40 as malignant. With respect to the diagnosis of malignancy, sensitivity was 92.5 % (37/40) with B-mode and unenhanced conventional colour/power Doppler US ultrasound, 97.5 % (39/40) with contrast-enhanced colour/ power Doppler ultrasound, and 100 % with CT; the corresponding specificities were 65 % (13/20), 85 % (17/20) and 80 % (16/20). 4 of 7 false positive, and 2 of 3 false negative results in the unenhanced technique were diagnosed correctly with contrast-enhanced Doppler ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced Doppler ultrasound improved the diagnostic accuracy in 10 % of the cases. Its accuracy in our study was equal to that of CT.

Contrast Media↗