Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions

Background:Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)can detect lesions hidden in inflammatory regions and find necrosis or areas of severe fibrosis within the lesion.This retrospective study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of solid pancreatic lesions using percutaneous ultrasound(US)-guided fine-needle aspiration(FNA)with or without CEUS assessment.Methods:Clinical,imaging,and pathologic data of 181 patients from January 2014 to December 2018 in Pecking Union Medical College Hospital,with solid pancreatic masses who underwent percutaneous US-FNA and ThinPrep cytologic test were retrospectively evaluated.Patients were divided into CEUS and US groups according to whether CEUS was performed before the biopsy.According to FNA cytology diagnoses,we combined non-diagnostic,neoplastic,and negative cases into a negative category.The positive category included malignant,suspicious,and atypical cases.The final diagnosis was confirmed by pathology or clinical and radiological follow-up for at least 12 months.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),negative predictive value(NPV),and accuracy of US-FNA were evaluated between the two groups.Results:This study enrolled 107 male and 74 female patients(average age:60 years).There were 58 cases in the US group and 123 cases in the CEUS group.No statistically significant differences in age,gender,or lesion size were found between the two groups.The diagnostic accuracy of the CEUS group was 95.1%(117/123),which was higher than the 86.2%(50/58)observed in the US group(P=0.036).The sensitivity,specificity,PPV,and NPV of the CEUS group were increased by 7.5%,16.7%,3.4%,and 18.8%,respectively,compared with the US group.However,the differences of the two groups were not statistically significant.Conclusions:Compared with the conventional US,the use of CEUS could improve the biopsy accuracy and avoid the need for a repeat biopsy,especially for some complicated FNA cases.

Is endoscopic ultrasound a promising technique in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases?

Percutaneous ultrasound has been a longstanding method in the diagnostics and interventional procedures of liver diseases.In some countries,its use is restricted to radiologists,limiting access for other clinicians,such as gastroenterologists.Endoscopic ultrasound,as a novel technique,plays a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases.However,its use is sometimes recommended for conditions where no clear advantage over percutaneous ultrasound exists,leaving the impression that clinicians sometimes resort to an endoscopic approach due to the unavailability of percutaneous options.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of a traumatic abdominal wall hematoma in the emergency department

BACKGROUND:Abdominal wall hematoma is due to trauma,coagulation disorders or anticoagulation therapy complications.METHODS:in this report we present a case of a 44-year-old female who suffered from blunt abdominal trauma and presented to the emergency department with sharp abdominal pain and ecchymosis.FAST and abdominal computerized tomography(CT) revealed an abdominal wall hematoma.Treatment with an ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage was performed successfully.RESULTS:The patient remained under observation for six hours with serial ultrasound scans,and no signs of hematoma recurrence were present.She was discharged the same day with clinical improvement.CONCLUSION:Complete history investigation and clinical examination help to make a correct diagnosis of abdominal wall hematoma,select a prompt treatment,and reduce complications.

Intracoronary stent implantation under intracoronary ultrasound guidance with aspirin and ticlopidine therapy

Objective To observe the immediate angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) results and their effects on one month clinical outcomes in forty one patients who submitted to coronary stent deployment with IVUS guidance Methods All patients were allocated to coronary stent implantation with high inflation pressure After good angiographic results (<20% residual stenosis), all patients underwent IVUS and higher pressure dilatation would be necessary if criteria for optimal coronary stent implantation were not met The optimal criterion of IVUS for stent implantation was the ratio of intrastent lumen cross sectional area to the average of the proximal and distal reference lumen cross sectional areas ≥80% All patients had aspirin and ticlopidine therapy on the day of angioplasty and during the one month follow up period Results Optimal criteria of IVUS were obtained without any further intrastent dilatation in twenty five patients but intrastent higher pressure dilatation was performed in fourteen patients whose ultrasound results did not reach the criteria In these patients, we increased the minimal intrastent lumen area 25 7% ( P <0 05) Thirty five patients (90%) had good minimal intrastent lumen area of IVUS There were no deaths, myocardial infarction, acute stent thrombosis or need for revascularization during the study and the one month follow up Conclusions Intracoronary stent deployment under IVUS guidance, including combining aspirin and ticlopidine therapy, had beneficial ultrasound results and good clinical outcomes after one month follow up