The Diagnostic Value of CEUS in Assessing Non-Ossified Thyroid Cartilage Invasion in Patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Accurate assessment of thyroid cartilage invasion in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx remains a challenge in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of non-ossified thyroid cartilage invasion in patients with SCC. Methods: CEUS, CECT, and MRI scans of 27 male patients with histologically proven SCC were evaluated and compared. A total of 31 cases were assessed via CEUS and CECT. The MR images of five patients and six cases were excluded (one patient had two suspected sites), leaving twenty-five cases for analysis via MRI. Results: CEUS showed the highest accuracy and specificity compared with CECT and MRI (87.1% vs. 64.5% and 76.0% as well as 84.0% vs. 64.0% and 72.7%, respectively). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of CEUS and MRI were the same (100%). CEUS yielded four false-positive findings. However, there were no statistically significant differences among the imaging modalities (p > 0.05). Conclusions: CEUS showed better diagnostic performance than CECT and MRI. Therefore, CEUS has the potential to accurately assess non-ossified thyroid cartilage invasion and guide appropriate treatment decisions, hopefully leading to improved patient outcomes.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava.

Leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin usually affecting the inferior vena cava. Early diagnosis is essential before surgical resection, which is the only therapeutic modality that prolongs patients' survival. Ultrasonography, computer tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are the main imaging modalities in this case. Combined with guided biopsies, they form the mainstay of reliable diagnosis. We report a case with retroperitoneal tumor arising from the middle segment of the inferior vena cava. Radiological examination revealed retroperitoneal tumor and helped to choose surgical treatment. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava.

[The possibility of the investigation of portal vein thrombosis by means of ultrasonography]. / Kepenu vartu venos trombozes ultragarsinio tyrimo galimybes.

Doppler-based sonography investigation of liver blood circulation plays major role in the modern diagnosis of portal hypertension that is frequently caused by portal vein thrombosis. Eight patients with portal vein thrombosis have been investigated. During the sonographic investigation we evaluated the size of liver, focal changes in liver, the diameters of the portal vein and its both branches, of the spleen vein, of the superior mesenteric vein, the direction and the characteristics of the blood flow, portaportic and portasystemic collaterals, and the size of spleen. The thrombosis of the trunk and both branches of the portal vein was detected in 4 patients, out of which there was one case of additional thrombosis of the spleen and the superior mesenteric veins, while in another case there was partial thrombosis of the spleen vein. A separate thrombus of the portal vein trunk was noticed in 1 patient. The thrombosis of the portal vein trunk and the right branch was diagnosed in 1 case. There were 2 cases of thrombosis of only left branch of the portal vein. The cause of the portal vein thrombosis remained undetected in 6 cases. The thrombosis of the portal vein developed as a consequence of pancreatitis in one patient, the cause of another case was hepatocellular carcinoma. In comparison to CT, sonography is able to determine additionally the direction of the blood flow and to record a variety of different sections in detecting the above-mentioned pathology. Doppler-based sonography investigation of liver blood circulation, especially the color-coded, is non-invasive, it can be carried out quickly and does not need expensive contrast medium.