Objective To assess value and limitations of non-invasive methods in assessing liver fibrosis．Methods By summarized current situation and advancement of serum fibrotic markers, ultrasound, CT and MRI in assessing liver fibrosis, we investigated their value and limitations. Results In addition to diagnosis, non-invasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis assess severity of liver fibrosis. For liver fibrosis, however, non-invasive methods can not monitor effectively reaction to therapy and progression. Conclusion Non-invasive methods play important roles in diagnosis and assessing severity of liver fibrosis, and reduce the need of liver biopsy.
Objective To explore the value of virtual touch tissue quantification(VTQ) of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods The ultrasound (US), elastography imaging(EI), and VTQ of ARFI were performed to determine the characteristics and features of 63 thyroid nodules. The pathological diagnosis was the gold standard. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of US, EI, and VTQ, the critical points and diagnostic values of US, EI, and VTQ in diag-nosis of malignant thyroid nodules were achieved. Results Of the 63 nodules, 45 were benign and 18 were malignant. The area under curves of US, EI, and shear wave velocity(SWV) were 0.837(95% CI:0.712-0.962), 0.863(95% CI:0.751-0.974), and 0.900 (95% CI:0.810-0.990) respectively, and all the 3 kinds of technique had diagnostic value(P=0.001), but there were no significant difference among the 3 kinds of technique on the area under curve(P > 0.05). According to the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve, the critical point of US in distinguishing benign nodules with malignant nodules was 3 conventional ultrasonography, which displayed a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 86.7%, and a accuracy of 85.7%. The critical point of EI grades in distinguishing benign nodules with malignant nodules was gradeⅣ, which displayed a sensitivity of 94.1%, a specificity of 82.6%, and a accuracy of 87.3%. The critical value of SWV in distinguishing benign nodules with malignant nodules was 3.39 m/s, which displayed a sensiti-vity of 88.9%, a specificity of 91.1%, and a accuracy of 90.5%. Conclusion US, EI, and VTQ techniques all have diagnostic values in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and we should make combination with all of the 3 kinds of technique when performing differential diagnosis.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of selective exercise training technique combined with ultrasound therapy on patellofemoral pain syndrome. MethodsPatients who met the research criteria were assigned into treatment group and control group randomly between July 2011 and August 2012. Each group had 28 patients. There were no significant differences in gender, age and body mass index between the two groups (P>0.05). Patients in the treatment group received selective exercise therapy and ultrasound therapy, while patients in the control group received normal exercise treatment and ultrasound therapy. Knee numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and knee functional obstruction assessment were performed on all the patients before treatment and 5 days after treatment (on the 6th day) for comparison. ResultsBefore treatment, the score of NPRS in the treatment group and the control group was 4.7±0.8 and 4.8±0.9, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). The score of functional obstruction assessment was 11.2±2.2 and 12.2±2.7 in the two groups without significant difference (P>0.05). Five days after treatment, the NPRS score decreased to 2.1±0.5 in the treatment group and 4.2±1.0 in the control group, and the knee functional obstruction assessment score decreased to 6.4±1.9 and 11.1±2.6, respectively. Both groups improved significantly in NPRS score and knee functional obstruction assessment score (P＜0.05), while the treatment group exhibited more improvement in the two scores than the control group (P＜0.05). ConclusionSelective exercise training is effective for improving the pain and function of patients with patellofemoral syndrome.
ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of sonography in thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) for thyroid nodules. MethodsA total of 292 patients (423 nodules) underwent thyroid examination with high frequency ultrasound. The results were retrospectively compared with histopathological diagnosis and TI-RADS lexicon. ResultsThe category 1-5 of 423 thyroid nodules were evaluated by using TI-RADS, and it’s frequency of being malignancy rate was 0(0/129), 6.3%(11/176), 33.3%(10/30), 86.8%(46/53), and 100% (35/35), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for benign thyroid nodule of ultrasound in TI-RADS was 96.3%（309/321）, 83.3%（85/102）, 93.1%（394/423）, 94.8%（309/326）, and 87.6%（85/97）, respectively. Positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and Youden’ index was 5.77, 0.04, and 79.6%, respectively. The benign and malignancy nodule of TI-RADS category were statistically difference in shape, margin, echogenicity, echotexture, composition, and calcification inside the nodule (Plt;0.001). ConclusionsTI-RADS lexicon has an important guiding value for clinical diagnosis and treatment in ultrasound examination of thyroid nodule.
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for metastatic liver cancer. Methods Ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA technique was used to treat 27 cases of hepatic metastases with 69 nodules 〔0.9-13.2 (3.0±2.0) cm in diameter〕. Local therapeutic effect, local and distant recurrence rate and survival rate were evaluated respectively. Results The complete ablation (CA) rate which was used to evaluate the local therapeutic effects was 92.8% (64/69), with 100% (34/34), 92.3%(24/26) and 66.7% (6/9) in a diameter of nodules lt;3.0 cm, 3.0-5.0 cm and ≥5.0 cm respectively. The CA rate was lower in the group of a diameter of nodules ≥5.0 cm as compared with other two groups (Plt;0.05). The local recurrence rate was 9.4% (6/64), with 2.9% (1/34), 16.7% (4/24) and 16.7% (1/6) in a diameter of nodules lt;3.0 cm, 3.0-5.0 cm and ≥5.0 cm respectively. The intrahepatic distant recurrence rate was 44.4% (12/27). The follow-up time after MWA was 3－34 (17.0±8.7) months. During the follow-up period, 6 months, 1 and 2-year cumulative survival rate was 88.9%, 63.0% and 34.4% respectively, with a mean survival time of 17.8 months, and with a median survival time of 19.0 months.Conclusion Percutaneous MWA treatment offers satisfactory local tumoricidal efficacy to metastatic liver cancer and the patients with recurrence and new metastases can be therapy repeatedly to improve long-term survival.
ObjectiveTo explore the significance of ultrasound combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of pernicious placenta previa (PPP).MethodsA total of 101 patients with suspected PPP admitted to Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital from January 2016 to February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical results were used as the gold standard, and the diagnostic value of ultrasound, MRI, ultrasound combined with MRI was compared.ResultsSurgery results showed that among the 101 patients with suspected PPP, 79 patients had positive PPP diagnosis and 22 patients had negative PPP diagnosis. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic sensitivity, negative predictive value, or diagnostic coincidence rate of PPP among ultrasound, MRI, and ultrasound combined with MRI (P>0.05). The diagnostic specificity of the series combination of ultrasound and MRI (86.36%) was higher than that of ultrasound (59.10%), MRI (59.10%), and the parallel combination of ultrasound and MRI (31.32%), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The diagnostic coincidence rates of abnormal placental attachment of MRI (96.20%) and the parallel combination of ultrasound and MRI (96.20%) were higher than that of ultrasound (87.34%) and the series combination of ultrasound and MRI (87.34%) (P<0.05).ConclusionsUltrasound combined with MRI has a high diagnostic value for PPP. If necessary, ultrasound combined with MRI can be considered to improve the diagnostic efficiency.
【Abstract】 Objective To review the study of noninvasive imaging methods for evaluating liver fibrosis. Methods The current literatures on the use of the ultrasonography， CT and MRI for the evaluation of liver fibrosis were reviewed. The principles, applications and advancement of each imaging methods were described and summarized respectively. The features of the newly developed imaging techniques were also discussed. Results In addition to the morphologic information， the imaging examinations can also provide functional information about the circulation status， diffusion and metabolism features of liver. The potential diagnostic value of MR elastography for liver fibrosis has been addressed. Conclusion The imaging examinations, especially the functional MRI techniques, are reliable noninvasive alternatives for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis, with bright potentiality for clinical application.
Objective To systematically review the value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of fracture of the distal radius and ulna for providing evidence for clinical diagnosis. MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 7, 2016), CNKI, CBM and WanFang Data databases for studies about ultrasound in the diagnosis of fracture of the distal radius and ulna from inception to August 1st, 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literatures according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies by using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2) tool, and then meta-analysis was performed by using Meta-Disc 1.4 software. ResultsA total of 16 articles involving 1 182 patients and 631 fractures were included. The results of heterogeneity test revealed that there was statistical heterogeneity among the results of studies, thus, random effects model was used for meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis showed that the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnosis odds ratio for ultrasound diagnosis fracture of the distal radius and ulna were 0.95 (95%CI 0.94 to 0.97), 0.92 (95%CI 0.89 to 0.94), 9.98 (95%CI 5.20 to 19.15), 0.07 (95%CI 0.04 to 0.13), 187.94 (95%CI 65.67 to 537.84), respectively. The area under the SROC curve was 0.976 4. ConclusionUltrasound is a useful non-invasive method as a routine examination for fracture of the distal radius and ulna. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above conclusion is needed to be validated by more high-quality studies.
Objective To observe the ultrasonographic features of idiopathic uveal effusion syndrome (IUES). MethodsA retrospective controlled study. From January 2012 to December 2023, 13 patients with IUES (26 eyes) diagnosed by ophthalmology examination in Department of Ophthalmonogy of Beijing Tongren Hospital (IUES group) and 22 healthy people with 30 eyes (control group) were included in the study. Both eyes of all participants were examined by color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM). The thickness of the ocular wall at 300 μm on the temporal side of the optic disc was measured by CDU. UBM was used to measure the thickness of the nasal and temporal scleral processes. Corneal thickness (CT), anterior chamber depth (AD), lens thickness (LT) and axial length (AL) were measured by A-mode ultrasound. There were no significant differences in age (t=0.842), sex component ratio (χ2=0.540), eye difference (χ2=0.108) and AL (t=0.831) between IUES group and control group (P＞0.05). The CDU and UBM imaging features and biometrics of IUES affected eyes were observed. Independent sample t test was used for comparison between groups. ResultsCDU examination results showed that in 26 eyes of IUES group, choroidal detachment occurred in 20 eyes (76.9%, 20/26), which showed arc-shaped band echo connected with peripheral and equatorial eye wall echo, with uniform low echo area below, and blood flow signal could be seen on the band echo. The echo thickened and decreased in 4 eyes (15.3%, 4/26). Nine eyes (33.3%, 9/26) were accompanied by retinal detachment, which showed that the posterior pole vitreous echo was connected to the optic disc echo, and the blood flow signal was seen on the ribbon echo. UBM results showed ciliary detachment in 22 eyes (84.7%, 22/26), showing a spongy thickening of the ciliary body with interlamellar echo separation and an echoless area between the sclera. Ciliary body echo thickened and decreased in 2 eyes (7.7%, 2/26). Shallow space between ciliary body and sclera was observed in 2 eyes (7.7%, 2/26). Compared with the control group, CT (Z=2.054), LT (Z=1.867), scleral thickness (Z=2.536) and ocular wall thickness (Z=2.094) were thickened in IUES group, and AD (Z=1.888) were decreased, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). ConclusionsThe CDU of IUES is characterized by a thickened echo of the ocular wall and a uniform low echo area under the detached choroid. UBM is characterized by a spongy thickening of the ciliary body echo with interlaminar echo separation.
The traditional obstetric neuraxial anesthesia has no visual technical support. The success rate is closely related to the experience of the anesthesiologist, so there is a certain failure rate. With the widespread use of high-resolution portable ultrasound machines in recent years, a large number of clinical studies have upheld the feasibility and effectiveness of ultrasound in neuraxial anesthesia. The application of ultrasound in obstetric neuraxial anesthesia has obvious advantages compared with traditional methods of puncture. Ultrasound can accurately locate the intervertebral space, reduce the number of punctures, enhance the success rate of puncture, enhance the quality of obstetric anesthesia, and increase patients' satisfaction and comfort. This review shows the advantages and limitations of ultrasound in obstetric neuraxial anesthesia.