Assessment of quantitative microflow Vascular Index in testicular cancer.

PURPOSE: Ultrasound (US) is the primary imaging modality when a testicular tumor is suspected. Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) is a novel, highly sensitive Doppler technique that allows quantification of flow signals by determination of the Vascular Index (VI). The aim of the present study is to investigate the diagnostic significance of the SMI-derived VI in normal testicular tissue and testicular cancer. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent testicular US in our department from 2018 to 2022. Inclusion criteria were: i) sufficient image quality of the stored images, ii) US with standardized SMI-default setting (colour gain of 44 ± 5), iii) patient age ≥ 18 years, and iv) normal testicular findings or testicular tumor with histopathological workup. US examinations were performed as part of clinical routine using a high-end ultrasound system (Aplio i800/i900, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Tochigi, Japan). Statistical analysis included Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients (31 each with normal findings and testicular tumors) were included. The VI differed statistically significantly (p < 0.001) between normal testis (median 2.5 %) and testicular tumors (median 17.4 %). Like vascular patterns (p < 0.001), the VI (p = 0.030) was shown to distinguish seminomas (median 14.8 %), non-seminomas (median 17.6 %) and lymphomas (median 34.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study has shown the VI to be a quantitative tool that can add information for differentiating testicular tumor entities. While further confirmation in larger study populations is desirable, our results suggest that the VI may be a useful quantitative parameter.

[Functional assessment of internal carotid artery tortuosity in patients with multifocal atherosclerosis]. / Vazhnost' dinamicheskoi funktsional'noi otsenki patologicheskoi izvitosti vnutrennikh sonnykh arterii u bol'nykh s mul'tifokal'nym aterosklerozom.

The review is devoted to diagnosis and treatment of internal carotid artery tortuosity. The authors consider modern classification, epidemiology and diagnostic options using neuroimaging or ultrasound-assisted functional stress tests depending on medical history and complaints. In addition to standard Doppler ultrasound, rotational and orthostatic tests are advisable due to possible changes of local shape and hemodynamic parameters following body position changes, especially in patients with concomitant atherosclerotic stenosis. Thus, a personalized approach is especially important for treatment and diagnostics of internal carotid artery tortuosity.

[Dynamic functional assessment of internal carotid artery tortuosity in patients with multifocal atherosclerosis]. / Dinamicheskaya funktsional'naya otsenka patologicheskikh izvitostei vnutrennikh sonnykh arterii u bol'nykh s mul'tifokal'nym aterosklerozom. Klinicheskii sluchai.

A personalized approach with attention to anamnesis and specific symptoms is necessary in patients with internal carotid artery tortuosity. Neuroimaging (especially before elective surgery) or functional stress tests following ultrasound of supra-aortic vessels may be necessary depending on medical history and complaints. In addition to standard Doppler ultrasound, these patients should undergo rotational and orthostatic transformation tests. We analyze changes in shape and hemodynamic parameters within the tortuosity area in various body positions. This is especially valuable for patients with concomitant carotid artery stenosis. The article presents a clinical case illustrating the importance of such approach.

A Robust Approach Assisted by Signal Quality Assessment for Fetal Heart Rate Estimation from Doppler Ultrasound Signal.

Fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring, typically using Doppler ultrasound (DUS) signals, is an important technique for assessing fetal health. In this work, we develop a robust DUS-based FHR estimation approach complemented by DUS signal quality assessment (SQA) based on unsupervised representation learning in response to the drawbacks of previous DUS-based FHR estimation and DUS SQA methods. We improve the existing FHR estimation algorithm based on the autocorrelation function (ACF), which is the most widely used method for estimating FHR from DUS signals. Short-time Fourier transform (STFT) serves as a signal pre-processing technique that allows the extraction of both temporal and spectral information. In addition, we utilize double ACF calculations, employing the first one to determine an appropriate window size and the second one to estimate the FHR within changing windows. This approach enhances the robustness and adaptability of the algorithm. Furthermore, we tackle the challenge of low-quality signals impacting FHR estimation by introducing a DUS SQA method based on unsupervised representation learning. We employ a variational autoencoder (VAE) to train representations of pre-processed fetal DUS data and aggregate them into a signal quality index (SQI) using a self-organizing map (SOM). By incorporating the SQI and Kalman filter (KF), we refine the estimated FHRs, minimizing errors in the estimation process. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach outperforms conventional methods in terms of accuracy and robustness.

Avaliação pré-operatória por imagem da hidradenite supurativa / Preoperative imaging assessment of hidradenitis suppurativa

A hidradenite supurativa (HS) é uma doença inflamatória crônica da pele caracterizada por apresentar nodulações subcutâneas, dolorosas e com sinais flogísticos, inicialmente enrijecidas e que evoluem para consistência amolecida. Ocorre em 1 a 4% da população mundial. A sua etiologia ainda é pouco conhecida, sugere-se que aconteça devido à oclusão do ducto apócrino dos folículos pilosos por fatores precipitantes como fricção de tecido adiposo, higiene precária, entre outras. Seu diagnóstico é eminentemente clínico, pela identificação de lesões típicas recorrentes em forma de nodularidades, abcessos, tratos fistulosos ou cicatrizes. Não há testes patognomônicos. Sua evolução é variável e de difícil manejo, o qual pode ser feito com terapia tópica, sistêmica ou por exérese cirúrgica. Este trabalho revisa a avaliação por imagem da hidroadenite supurativa e demonstra imagens de um caso avaliado por ressonância magnética. A avaliação por exames de imagem, apesar de pouco específica para firmar diagnóstico, é muito útil na determinação da extensão da doença, assim como na exclusão de diagnósticos diferenciais, destacando-se o papel da ressonância magnética na avaliação das lesões anogenitais, com potencial de reduzir recorrências.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by painful deep-seated skin nodules with phlogistic signs, which are initially hard and progress to have a soft consistency. It occurs in 1­4% of the world population. Etiology of HS is still poorly understood and is suggested to occur due to occlusion of the apocrine duct of the hair follicles by triggering factors such as friction of the adipose tissue and poor hygiene, among others. Diagnosis is eminently clinical, through the identification of typical recurrent lesions that include nodules, abscesses, sinus tracts, or scars. There are no pathognomonic tests used to confirm its presence. Progression is variable and difficult to manage, which can be done with topical or systemic therapy or surgical excision. This work reviews the imaging assessment of HS and shows images of a case assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging assessment, although not specific enough for a diagnosis, is useful to determine the extent of the disease and to exclude differential diagnoses. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging has an important role in the assessment of anogenital lesions and a potential to reduce recurrences.

Papel do Doppler do ducto venoso na restrição de crescimento intrauterino / Ductus venosus Doppler assessment in intrauterine growth restriction

Objetivo: O crescimento intrauterino restrito (CIUR) por insuficiência placentária persiste como grande desafio obstétrico. A interrupção da gestação representa a única estratégia de condução e baseia-se na predição de desfechos adversos. O Doppler tem valor reconhecido na avaliação seriada das alterações circulatórias nesses fetos, em geral sequenciais e proporcionais à gravidade do insulto hipóxico. Este estudo objetiva revisar as evidências do papel do Doppler de ducto venoso (DV) na predição de morbimortalidade perinatal em gestações complicadas por CIUR placentário grave e precoce. Métodos: Realizou-se revisão narrativa, com busca de artigos publicados nos últimos 10 anos nas bases Medline/PubMed, Lilacs e Scielo, sendo encontradas 132 referências. Pesquisas com animais e gestações múltiplas foram excluídas. Dos 115 artigos selecionados, 34 foram excluídos por inadequação ao tema. A revisão baseou-se nas demais 81 referências, além de trabalhos de reconhecida relevância no tema. Resultados: Estudos demonstram evidência consistente do papel do Doppler de DV na avaliação de fetos com CIUR, com bom valor preditivo para acidemia fetal e desfecho perinatal adverso. As principais estratégias de monitorização se baseiam na combinação do Doppler de vasos arteriais/venosos e parâmetros biofísicos, mas o Doppler de DV seria o melhor parâmetro isolado para predição de comprometimento fetal grave. Conclusão: A incorporação do Doppler de DV na monitorização de fetos com CIUR grave e precoce é capaz de predizer desfechos perinatais críticos. A avaliação de múltiplos vasos fetais parece aumentar a acurácia, porém não há evidência para embasar a definição de protocolos para o manejo clínico.(AU)

Objective: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to early onset placental insufficiency remains to be a great challenge in obstetrical practice. Delivery is still the only available strategy of management, and timing such intervention depends on prediction of adverse outcomes. Dopplervelocimetry studies have recognized value in the evaluation of the sequential hemodynamic changes that are stablished in the arterial and venous circulation of these fetuses, which correlate with the severity of hypoxemic insult. This study aims to review evidence on ductus venosus (DV) Doppler`s role as a predictor of perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by severe early onset IUGR. Methods: A Medline/PubMed, Lilacs and Scielo search was performed to identify original articles and systematic reviews published in the last 10 years. Eighty-one references were included in this review, in addition to other papers of recognized relevance in the subject. Results: Studies demonstrate consistent evidence on DV Doppler`s role in the longitudinal evaluation of IUGR fetuses, with adequate predictive value for fetal acidemia and adverse outcome. Monitoring strategies are usually based on a combination of arterial and venous Doppler assessment, in addition to biophysical parameters, but DV Doppler seems to be the best single parameter for prediction of severe fetal compromise. Conclusion: Monitoring of fetuses with severe early-onset IUGR through DV Doppler is able to predict critical perinatal outcomes. Evaluation of multiple fetal vessels seems to increase accuracy of prediction, but to this moment there is not enough evidence to recommend protocols of management.(AU)

Effect of intertrochanteric osteotomy on the proximal femur of rabbits: assessment with power Doppler sonography and scintigraphy

OBJECTIVE: In bone injury, repair results in local increased vascularity and bone marrow remodeling. Characterizing the vascular and metabolic imaging patterns of the proximal femur following an intertrochanteric osteotomy may help clinicians decide proper management of the patient. Our objective was to measure Doppler sonography and scintigraphy interval changes in the proximal femur following intertrochanteric osteotomy and compare imaging and histomorphometric measurements in the late post-operative stage (6 weeks after surgery) in a rabbit model of bone injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both hips of 12 adult rabbits were imaged with power Doppler sonography and scintigraphy prior to and after (7 days and 6 weeks) unilateral osteotomy. Accuracy of the imaging methods was evaluated using hip operative status and histomorphometric results (vascular fractional area and number of vessels per area unit) as reference standard measures. RESULTS: A significant difference in the mean number of pixels was noted between operated and non-operated femura in late post-operative power Doppler examinations (P=0.049). Although without reaching statistical significance, the AUC of Doppler measurements (AUC=0.99) was numerically greater than the AUC of scintigraphy measurements (AUC=0.857±0.099) (P=0.15) in differentiating proximal femura with regard to their fractional vascular areas in the late post-operative stage. In contrast, scintigraphy tended to perform better (AUC=0.984±0.022) than Doppler ultrasound (AUC=0.746±0.131) to demonstrate the vascularity intensity per area unit (P=0.07) in the late stage. CONCLUSION: Our results warrant further investigation to determine the value of different imaging modalities for assessment of pathologic changes following hip surgery. Power Doppler sonography demonstrated larger AUCs (representing higher accuracy) for the discrimination of vascular fractional areas and scintigraphy, for discrimination...

OBJETIVO: Regeneração em casos de lesão óssea resulta em aumento da vascularização local e remodelamento da medula óssea adjacente. A caracterização imagenológica de padrões vasculares e metabólicos no fêmur proximal após uma osteotomia intertrocantérica pode auxiliar ortopedistas a decidirem qual a terapêutica mais apropriada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações temporais observadas por ultra-sonografia Doppler e cintilografia no fêmur proximal após a realização de uma osteotomia intertrocantérica; e comparar achados imagenológicos e histomorfométricos no estágio pós-operatório tardio (6 semanas após a cirurgia) num modelo animal de lesão óssea. MATERIAIS AND MÉTODOS: Ambos os quadris de 12 coelhos adultos foram examinados por ultra-sonografia power Doppler e cintilografia antes e após (7 dias e 6 semanas) uma osteotomia unilateral. A acurácia dos métodos de imagem foi avaliada usando-se o status operatório dos quadris and os resultados histomorfométricos (área vascular fracional e número de vasos/unidade de área) como medidas de referência. RESULTADOS: Uma diferença significativa foi observada entre o número médio de pixels presentes no fêmur proximal operado e não-operado ao exame de power Doppler obtido no estágio pós-operatório tardio (P=0.049). Embora ser atingir significância estatística, a área abaixo da curva ("area-under-the-curve") dos exames de power Doppler (AUC=0.99) for numericamente superior à área abaixo da curva dos exames de cintilografia (AUC= 0.857±0.099) (P=0.15) para diferenciar fêmures proximais com relação a suas áreas vasculares fracionais no estágio pós-operatório tardio. Ao contrário, a cintilografia tendeu a apresentar uma "performance" diagnóstica superior (AUC=0.984±0.022) em relação ao Doppler (AUC=0.746±0.131) para demonstrar a quantidade de vasos por unidade de área (P=0.07) no estágio tardio. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados despertam a importância de continuar-se investigando...