Echoes Ultrasound 2016, Vol. 24(2) 126–127 ! The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1742271X16638628 ult.sagepub.com
Renal cell carcinomas: Sonographic appearance depending on size and histologic type. Sidhar K, McGahan JP, Early H, et al. J Ultrasound Med 2016;35:311–320
organisations. Students, novices and experienced practitioners in ultrasound may all benefit from a look at this.
Here is a timely and useful study confirming that a small number of renal cell carcinomas begin life as looking hyperechoic on ultrasound and could, therefore, be mistaken as angiomyolipomas (AMLs). In the absence of national guidance, this work may influence UK institutions that do not have a clear protocol in place for distinguishing between AMLs and RCC.
Accuracy of first-trimester ultrasound in diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy in the absence of an obvious extrauterine embryo: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Richardson A, Gallos I, Dobson S, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016;47:28–37
Sonographically identified echogenic renal masses up to 1 cm in size are so rarely malignant they can be safely ignored. Itani M, Pandya A, Bude R. J Ultrasound Med 2016;35:323–328 On the other hand, if you read this report in the same issue of JUM, you need not bother with any follow-up for suspected AMLs. The results ‘strongly suggest’ that hyperechoic renal masses smaller than 1 cm may be ignored. The sample sizes in both studies were similar. Education and visual information improves effectiveness of ultrasound-guided local injections on shoulder pain and associated anxiety level: A randomized controlled study. Karkucak M, Cilesizoglu N, Capkin E, et al. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2016;95:9–14 Here is an interesting study which found that patients having ultrasound-guided injections for shoulder pain were more likely to cope better with pain and anxiety if they were able to watch the procedure on the ultrasound monitor. It is worth pointing out though, that there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of post-injection satisfaction whether they were able to see what was going on or not. Normal and abnormal US findings in early first-trimester pregnancy: Review of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound 2012 Consensus Panel recommendations. Rodgers SK, Chang C, DeBardeleben JT, et al. Radiographics 2015;35:2135–2148 This is an excellent review of both normal and abnormal early pregnancy appearances. It contains lots of high-quality ultrasound images and uses the same threshold measurements as our main UK professional
This large-scale review combined results from 31 studies including 5858 women and concluded that ultrasound is better at ruling in ectopic pregnancy than ruling it out. In the absence of a distinct embryo growing outside the uterus, other ultrasound ‘clues’ like an empty uterus, adnexal mass and free fluid had poor sensitivity. Microbubbles and ultrasound: Therapeutic applications in diabetic nephropathy. Cao WJ, Matkar PN, Chen HH, et al. Adv Exp Med Biol 2016;880:309–330 This paper discusses preclinical studies investigating ways to address diabetic nephropathy complications. Gene delivery using high-power ultrasound and carrier microbubbles in animal models is non-invasive and has shown promising results. Women with minor menstrual irregularities have increased risk of preeclampsia and low birthweight in spontaneous pregnancies. Bonnesen B, Oddgeirsdo´ttir HL, Vinsand Naver K, et al. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2016;95:88–92 This retrospective Danish study investigated 3440 pregnant women over a two-year period and found that those with irregular menstrual cycles before conception had a significantly increased risk of pre-eclampsia and low birth weight but a much reduced risk of prolonged pregnancy (p < 0.001). Usefulness of contrast-enhanced US in the diagnosis of acute gangrenous cholecystitis: A comparative study with surgical and pathological findings. Ripolle´s T, Martı´ nezPe´rez MJ, Martin G, et al. Eur J Radiol 2016;85:31–38 A detailed and rigorous study of 150 patients suggested that widespread or local absence of gallbladder wall
Edwards enhancement on CEUS was associated with gangrenous acute cholecystitis. Presence of diabetes mellitus and steatosis is associated with liver stiffness in a general population: The Rotterdam study. Koehler E, Plompen E, Schouten J, et al. Hepatology 2016;63:138–147 Over 3000 participants over 44 years old underwent transient elastography to determine their liver stiffness. Those with a measurement of 8.0 kPa, which is suggestive of clinically relevant fibrosis, were more likely to have steatosis and/or diabetes mellitus. Ultrasound imaging-guided percutaneous treatment of rotator cuff calcific tendinitis: Success in short-term outcome. Bazzocchi A, Pelotti P, Serraino S, et al. Br J Radiol 2016;89:1057 This team from Italy investigated 147 patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinitis and found that younger patients (30–40 years old) with soft and middle-sized calcifications showed the greatest improvement in symptoms and function after double-needle ultrasound-guided percutaneous fragmentation and lavage.
127 Use of the acoustic shadow width to determine kidney stone size with ultrasound. Dunmire B, Harper J, Cunitz B, et al. J Urol 2016;195:171–177 It seems that measuring the shadow cast by a kidney stone rather than the stone itself, using harmonic imaging settings on the ultrasound control panel, will allow us to achieve greater accuracy of true stone size. In this in vitro study, 78% of shadow sizes were accurate to within 1 mm. Human papillomavirus contamination of gynaecological equipment. Gallay C, Miranda E, Schaefer S, et al. Sex Transm Infect 2016;92:19–23 This is a worry. A team investigated the prevalence of HPV on various items of gynaecological equipment in four private practices and two NHS hospitals. Of 179 samples, 32 were HPV positive. The authors found that 6% of cases were on ultrasound gel tubes and contamination was thought to happen when the practitioner touched the gel tube with the transducer.
Hazel Edwards
Renal cell carcinomas: Sonographic appearance depending on size and histologic type. Sidhar K, McGahan JP, Early H, et al. J Ultrasound Med 2016;35:311–320
organisations. Students, novices and experienced practitioners in ultrasound may all benefit from a look at this.
Here is a timely and useful study confirming that a small number of renal cell carcinomas begin life as looking hyperechoic on ultrasound and could, therefore, be mistaken as angiomyolipomas (AMLs). In the absence of national guidance, this work may influence UK institutions that do not have a clear protocol in place for distinguishing between AMLs and RCC.
Accuracy of first-trimester ultrasound in diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy in the absence of an obvious extrauterine embryo: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Richardson A, Gallos I, Dobson S, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2016;47:28–37
Sonographically identified echogenic renal masses up to 1 cm in size are so rarely malignant they can be safely ignored. Itani M, Pandya A, Bude R. J Ultrasound Med 2016;35:323–328 On the other hand, if you read this report in the same issue of JUM, you need not bother with any follow-up for suspected AMLs. The results ‘strongly suggest’ that hyperechoic renal masses smaller than 1 cm may be ignored. The sample sizes in both studies were similar. Education and visual information improves effectiveness of ultrasound-guided local injections on shoulder pain and associated anxiety level: A randomized controlled study. Karkucak M, Cilesizoglu N, Capkin E, et al. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2016;95:9–14 Here is an interesting study which found that patients having ultrasound-guided injections for shoulder pain were more likely to cope better with pain and anxiety if they were able to watch the procedure on the ultrasound monitor. It is worth pointing out though, that there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of post-injection satisfaction whether they were able to see what was going on or not. Normal and abnormal US findings in early first-trimester pregnancy: Review of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound 2012 Consensus Panel recommendations. Rodgers SK, Chang C, DeBardeleben JT, et al. Radiographics 2015;35:2135–2148 This is an excellent review of both normal and abnormal early pregnancy appearances. It contains lots of high-quality ultrasound images and uses the same threshold measurements as our main UK professional
This large-scale review combined results from 31 studies including 5858 women and concluded that ultrasound is better at ruling in ectopic pregnancy than ruling it out. In the absence of a distinct embryo growing outside the uterus, other ultrasound ‘clues’ like an empty uterus, adnexal mass and free fluid had poor sensitivity. Microbubbles and ultrasound: Therapeutic applications in diabetic nephropathy. Cao WJ, Matkar PN, Chen HH, et al. Adv Exp Med Biol 2016;880:309–330 This paper discusses preclinical studies investigating ways to address diabetic nephropathy complications. Gene delivery using high-power ultrasound and carrier microbubbles in animal models is non-invasive and has shown promising results. Women with minor menstrual irregularities have increased risk of preeclampsia and low birthweight in spontaneous pregnancies. Bonnesen B, Oddgeirsdo´ttir HL, Vinsand Naver K, et al. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2016;95:88–92 This retrospective Danish study investigated 3440 pregnant women over a two-year period and found that those with irregular menstrual cycles before conception had a significantly increased risk of pre-eclampsia and low birth weight but a much reduced risk of prolonged pregnancy (p < 0.001). Usefulness of contrast-enhanced US in the diagnosis of acute gangrenous cholecystitis: A comparative study with surgical and pathological findings. Ripolle´s T, Martı´ nezPe´rez MJ, Martin G, et al. Eur J Radiol 2016;85:31–38 A detailed and rigorous study of 150 patients suggested that widespread or local absence of gallbladder wall
Edwards enhancement on CEUS was associated with gangrenous acute cholecystitis. Presence of diabetes mellitus and steatosis is associated with liver stiffness in a general population: The Rotterdam study. Koehler E, Plompen E, Schouten J, et al. Hepatology 2016;63:138–147 Over 3000 participants over 44 years old underwent transient elastography to determine their liver stiffness. Those with a measurement of 8.0 kPa, which is suggestive of clinically relevant fibrosis, were more likely to have steatosis and/or diabetes mellitus. Ultrasound imaging-guided percutaneous treatment of rotator cuff calcific tendinitis: Success in short-term outcome. Bazzocchi A, Pelotti P, Serraino S, et al. Br J Radiol 2016;89:1057 This team from Italy investigated 147 patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinitis and found that younger patients (30–40 years old) with soft and middle-sized calcifications showed the greatest improvement in symptoms and function after double-needle ultrasound-guided percutaneous fragmentation and lavage.
127 Use of the acoustic shadow width to determine kidney stone size with ultrasound. Dunmire B, Harper J, Cunitz B, et al. J Urol 2016;195:171–177 It seems that measuring the shadow cast by a kidney stone rather than the stone itself, using harmonic imaging settings on the ultrasound control panel, will allow us to achieve greater accuracy of true stone size. In this in vitro study, 78% of shadow sizes were accurate to within 1 mm. Human papillomavirus contamination of gynaecological equipment. Gallay C, Miranda E, Schaefer S, et al. Sex Transm Infect 2016;92:19–23 This is a worry. A team investigated the prevalence of HPV on various items of gynaecological equipment in four private practices and two NHS hospitals. Of 179 samples, 32 were HPV positive. The authors found that 6% of cases were on ultrasound gel tubes and contamination was thought to happen when the practitioner touched the gel tube with the transducer.
Hazel Edwards
