ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm neonates are vulnerable to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which might be related to high-resistance flow in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), with decreased diastolic flow in situations of marked intestinal hypoperfusion. No previous studies have evaluated the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) parameters to assess the PDA hemodynamic repercussions. OBJECTIVE: To assess mesenteric and portal flow in VLBW preterm neonates with or without PDA using serial Doppler ultrasonography (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study on 61 VLBW preterm neonates submitted to 161 Doppler US exams, from 2 days to 20 days of age. RESULTS: All infants exhibited a progressive daily increase in the mean of the SMA diameter and systolic velocity, the portal vein diameter, the peak velocity, the mean velocity and the flow volume and of SMV diameter (P<0.05). The incidence of PDA was 37.7% (n=23) and infants with the disease revealed a smaller diameter, greater systolic velocity, lower diastolic velocity, and higher resistivity and pulsatility indices on SMA compared to those without PDA (P<0.05). Additionally, 47.8% (n=11) of infants with PDA exhibited absent or reversed end-diastolic flow in the SMA, and its resolution was seen among 54.5% (n=6) of these. Infants with PDA also exhibited lower values of portal vein diameter and flow volume and of SMV diameter (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Doppler US enhances the understanding of mesenteric and portal flow, including the effects of PDA. The study of SMV and portal vein flow is proposed as a new parameter in PDA evaluation.
Subject(s)
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/diagnostic imaging , Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/physiopathology , Infant, Premature, Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Infant, Premature, Diseases/physiopathology , Mesenteric Artery, Superior/diagnostic imaging , Portal Vein/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler , Blood Flow Velocity , Female , Humans , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Abstract Adnexal torsion is characterized by partial or complete rotation of the suspensory ligament of the ovary and its corresponding vascular pedicle, resulting in vascular impairment that can culminate in hemorrhagic infarction, as well as necrosis of the ovary and fallopian tube. Because there are myriad causes of acute pelvic pain, the differential diagnosis of ovarian torsion is often challenging. Consequently, radiologists should be familiar with the main imaging findings. In this regard, there are typical signs of ovarian torsion on magnetic resonance imaging, including increased ovarian volume with stromal edema and peripheral distribution of the ovarian follicles, as well as thickening of the fallopian tube, an adnexal mass (causal factor) that shifts toward the midline, and the classic, pathognomonic "whirlpool sign". The objective of this essay was to review and illustrate the various magnetic resonance imaging findings in ovarian torsion.
Resumo A torção anexial é caracterizada por rotação parcial ou completa do ligamento suspensor do ovário e seu pedículo vascular correspondente, resultando em comprometimento vascular que pode culminar em infarto hemorrágico e necrose tecidual do ovário e da tuba uterina. Diante da gama de diagnósticos diferenciais de dor pélvica aguda, o diagnóstico é muitas vezes considerado desafiador, devendo o radiologista estar familiarizado com os principais achados de imagem. Nesse quesito, destacam-se os sinais característicos de torção anexial na ressonância magnética, incluindo aumento do volume ovariano com edema estromal, distribuição periférica de seus folículos, espessamento e edema da tuba uterina correspondente associados ou não à massa anexial - às vezes, fator predisponente - que se insinua para a linha média e, ainda, o clássico e patognomônico "sinal do redemoinho". O objetivo deste ensaio é ilustrar e revisar os diferentes achados de torção ovariana detectados pela ressonância magnética.
ABSTRACT
Adnexal torsion is characterized by partial or complete rotation of the suspensory ligament of the ovary and its corresponding vascular pedicle, resulting in vascular impairment that can culminate in hemorrhagic infarction, as well as necrosis of the ovary and fallopian tube. Because there are myriad causes of acute pelvic pain, the differential diagnosis of ovarian torsion is often challenging. Consequently, radiologists should be familiar with the main imaging findings. In this regard, there are typical signs of ovarian torsion on magnetic resonance imaging, including increased ovarian volume with stromal edema and peripheral distribution of the ovarian follicles, as well as thickening of the fallopian tube, an adnexal mass (causal factor) that shifts toward the midline, and the classic, pathognomonic "whirlpool sign". The objective of this essay was to review and illustrate the various magnetic resonance imaging findings in ovarian torsion.
