Echoes Diagnostic imaging of posterior fossa anomalies in the fetus and neonate: part 1, normal anatomy and classification of anomalies. Chapman T, Mahalingam S, Ishak G, et al. Clin Imaging 2015;39:1–8 An excellent review of head anatomy for all those involved with pre- and post-natal imaging. Good quality diagrams, photographs, MRI and ultrasound images aid clarity. Part two, describing posterior fossa disorders, can be found in the following issue of Clinical Imaging. Number and size of uterine fibroids and obstetric outcomes. Ciavattini A, Clemente N, Delli Carpini G, et al. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2015;28:484–8 In this retrospective study, pregnant women with multiple fibroids were significantly more likely to experience preterm birth, require a Caesarean section, or have a breech presentation. Those with fibroids greater than 50 mm also had an increased risk of preterm birth and premature rupture of membranes. Uterine artery Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis following uterine fibroid embolisation. Haugen G, Novakovic Z, Kirste U, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol 2015;35:316–17 Still on the subject of fibroids, this small study found that pulsatility indices taken from spectral Doppler of the uterine artery may be helpful in evaluating reduction in uterine size after fibroid embolisation. Learning profiles for non-invasive transcutaneous Doppler ultrasound. Chan CP, Li YL, Agarwal NS, et al. Eur J Emerg Med 2015;22:128–34 This team observed the progress of four novices performing cardiac ultrasound after minimal training comprising a 2 h lecture and 15 min demonstration followed by a practical work-shop and, unsurprisingly, it took a long time to reach competence. Continuous shear wave elastography: a new method to measure viscoelastic properties of tendons in vivo. Cortes DH, Suydam SM, Silbernagel KG, et al. Ultrasound Med Biol 2015;41:1518–29
A team from China looked at over 3000 pregnant women. Some had accepted assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and others had conceived naturally. Those who had had ART were found to be significantly more at risk of developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and cholestasis. A novel minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique: safety and efficacy report. Hu G, Guo Z, Liu H, et al. Scand J Urol 2015;49:174–80 This large six year study from China found that ultrasoundguided nephrolithotomy was an effective method of stone clearance in 82% of cases. No major complications were recorded. Diagnostic value of fetal MRI in evaluating fetal urinary anomalies. Behairy N, El Din L, Hanoun N, et al. Egyptian J Radiol Nuclear Med 2015;46:521–28 Here’s an investigation comparing ultrasound with MRI in evaluating prenatal urinary tract abnormalities. Of the 30 cases included, MRI changed patient management in three cases and found additional extrarenal anomalies in nine cases. The authors’ conclusion is that fetal MRI is complementary, when ultrasound findings are inconclusive or equivocal. A new insight for evaluation of the inferior turbinate with ultrasound elastography. Kısmalı E, Go¨de S, Turhal G, et al. J Ultrasound Med 2015;34:777–82 This preliminary study used 10 healthy volunteers to explore a novel technique using elastography to examine the stroma of the inferior nasal turbinates. Results were reliable and reproducible and not affected significantly by mucosal oedema so these researchers suggest turbinate elastography may complement other tests such as acoustic rhinometry. Noninvasive methods, including transient elastography, for the detection of liver disease in adults with cystic fibrosis. Sadler M, Crotty P, Fatovich L, et al. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015;29:139–44
Using the principle that healthy tendons are stiffer and damaged tendons are softer, this study investigated the role of elastography in identifying tendon pathology. The authors concluded that elastography may have a role in the clinical setting for evaluating Achilles and semitendinosus tendons after injury and during the recovery period.
Patients with cystic fibrosis frequently have liver disease, which can be difficult to detect. This team from Canada used various non-invasive tests on 127 adults with cystic fibrosis and found that transient elastography using Fibroscan (EchosensTM, France) yielded results on all of them and demonstrated that those in the cohort with liver disease (14%) had a higher liver stiffness than those without.
Association of assisted reproductive technology with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Jie Z, Yiling D and Ling Y. Iran J Reprod Med 2015;13:169–80
Diagnosis of fetal hypospadias: accuracy and outcome. Epelboym Y, Estrada C and Estroff J. Pediatric Radiol 2015;45:S218–S219 Ultrasound 2015; 23: 191–192
192
Ultrasound
Volume 23
August 2015
.......................................................................................................................... These investigators looked back over a ten year period and found 32 cases of fetuses with a diagnosis of hypospadias or other penile anomalies. When compared with postnatal findings, prenatal ultrasound had a 95% accuracy for detecting penile anomalies but only a 68% accuracy for hypospadias. Sonographic characteristics of the uterus in asymptomatic women after second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy. Cheung KW, Ngu SF and Cheung V. J Ultrasound Med 2015;34:611–16
The message here is that conservative management may be the best option for asymptomatic women after second trimester medical termination. The researchers found that over time, the uterus size, vascularity and endometrial appearance on ultrasound in 23 women all returned to normal without intervention.
Hazel Edwards DOI: 10.1177/1742271X15592103
A team from China looked at over 3000 pregnant women. Some had accepted assisted reproductive techniques (ART) and others had conceived naturally. Those who had had ART were found to be significantly more at risk of developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and cholestasis. A novel minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique: safety and efficacy report. Hu G, Guo Z, Liu H, et al. Scand J Urol 2015;49:174–80 This large six year study from China found that ultrasoundguided nephrolithotomy was an effective method of stone clearance in 82% of cases. No major complications were recorded. Diagnostic value of fetal MRI in evaluating fetal urinary anomalies. Behairy N, El Din L, Hanoun N, et al. Egyptian J Radiol Nuclear Med 2015;46:521–28 Here’s an investigation comparing ultrasound with MRI in evaluating prenatal urinary tract abnormalities. Of the 30 cases included, MRI changed patient management in three cases and found additional extrarenal anomalies in nine cases. The authors’ conclusion is that fetal MRI is complementary, when ultrasound findings are inconclusive or equivocal. A new insight for evaluation of the inferior turbinate with ultrasound elastography. Kısmalı E, Go¨de S, Turhal G, et al. J Ultrasound Med 2015;34:777–82 This preliminary study used 10 healthy volunteers to explore a novel technique using elastography to examine the stroma of the inferior nasal turbinates. Results were reliable and reproducible and not affected significantly by mucosal oedema so these researchers suggest turbinate elastography may complement other tests such as acoustic rhinometry. Noninvasive methods, including transient elastography, for the detection of liver disease in adults with cystic fibrosis. Sadler M, Crotty P, Fatovich L, et al. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015;29:139–44
Using the principle that healthy tendons are stiffer and damaged tendons are softer, this study investigated the role of elastography in identifying tendon pathology. The authors concluded that elastography may have a role in the clinical setting for evaluating Achilles and semitendinosus tendons after injury and during the recovery period.
Patients with cystic fibrosis frequently have liver disease, which can be difficult to detect. This team from Canada used various non-invasive tests on 127 adults with cystic fibrosis and found that transient elastography using Fibroscan (EchosensTM, France) yielded results on all of them and demonstrated that those in the cohort with liver disease (14%) had a higher liver stiffness than those without.
Association of assisted reproductive technology with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Jie Z, Yiling D and Ling Y. Iran J Reprod Med 2015;13:169–80
Diagnosis of fetal hypospadias: accuracy and outcome. Epelboym Y, Estrada C and Estroff J. Pediatric Radiol 2015;45:S218–S219 Ultrasound 2015; 23: 191–192
192
Ultrasound
Volume 23
August 2015
.......................................................................................................................... These investigators looked back over a ten year period and found 32 cases of fetuses with a diagnosis of hypospadias or other penile anomalies. When compared with postnatal findings, prenatal ultrasound had a 95% accuracy for detecting penile anomalies but only a 68% accuracy for hypospadias. Sonographic characteristics of the uterus in asymptomatic women after second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy. Cheung KW, Ngu SF and Cheung V. J Ultrasound Med 2015;34:611–16
The message here is that conservative management may be the best option for asymptomatic women after second trimester medical termination. The researchers found that over time, the uterus size, vascularity and endometrial appearance on ultrasound in 23 women all returned to normal without intervention.
Hazel Edwards DOI: 10.1177/1742271X15592103
