HokUS-10 scoring system predicts the treatment outcome for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a severe and life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We conducted a multi-center retrospective study to evaluate the utility of our ultrasonographic scoring system for the diagnosis of SOS (HokUS-10) in predicting SOS-related mortality (SOS-RM). We analyzed a total of 42 patients who developed SOS after HSCT. The cumulative incidences of SOS-RM, non-relapse mortality (NRM), and overall survival at day 180 after the diagnosis of SOS were 26.4%, 28.8% and 54.5%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of HokUS-10 total score to predict SOS-RM was 8 points after the treatment of SOS. In the individual HokUS-10 score, ascites and portal vein flow-related scores (PV mean velocity and PV flow direction) after the treatment of SOS were shown as significant risk factors for SOS-RM. Our study suggested that US findings after the treatment can predict the treatment outcomes for SOS.

Assessment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome using different scanning approaches for the ultrasonographic evaluation of portal vein blood flow and hepatic artery resistive index in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

PURPOSE: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a fatal complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Previously, we established a scoring system (Hokkaido ultrasound-based scoring system-10; HokUS-10) comprising 10 ultrasound parameters for SOS diagnosis. In HokUS-10, the portal vein time-averaged flow velocity (PV TAV) and hepatic artery resistive index (HA RI) are measured using subcostal scanning. However, measurement errors and delineation difficulties occur. Therefore, we aimed to prospectively evaluate PV TAV and HA RI measurements obtained via intercostal scanning as an alternative method to subcostal scanning and determine their cutoff values. METHODS: HokUS-10 was administered before and after HSCT. PV TAV and HA RI were measured on subcostal and right intercostal scans. RESULTS: We performed 366 scans on 74 patients. The median value (range) of PV TAV in the main and right portal veins was 15.0 cm/s (2.2-49.6 cm/s) and 10.5 cm/s (1.6-22.0 cm/s), respectively. A low correlation was observed between the two values (r = 0.39, p < 0.01). The highest diagnostic value of the right portal vein was less than 8.0 cm/s. The median value (range) of HA RI in the proper and right hepatic arteries was 0.72 (0.52-1.00) and 0.70 (0.51-1.00), respectively. A strong correlation was observed between the two values (r = 0.65, p < 0.01). The highest diagnostic value of the right HA RI was 0.72 or higher. CONCLUSION: Quantitative measurement of PV TAV and HA RI using intercostal scanning can be appropriately performed as an alternative method to using subcostal scanning.

A case of breast angiosarcoma clearly delineated by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.

We present a case of breast angiosarcoma. Although B-mode ultrasonography did not indicate a tumor, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) was successfully delineated it. CEUS helped identify the tumor and its extent.

Usefulness of ultrasonography and elastography in diagnosing oxaliplatin-induced sinusoidal obstruction syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) refers to liver injury caused by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and anticancer drugs including oxaliplatin. Increased splenic volume (SV) on computed tomography (CT) indicates oxaliplatin-induced SOS. Similarly, ultrasonography and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by shear-wave elastography (SWE) can help diagnose SOS after HSCT; however, their usefulness for diagnosing oxaliplatin-induced SOS remains unclear. We investigated the usefulness of the Hokkaido ultrasonography-based scoring system with 10 ultrasonographic parameters (HokUS-10) and SWE in diagnosing oxaliplatin-induced SOS early. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, ultrasonography and SWE were performed before and at 2, 4, and 6 months after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. HokUS-10 was used for assessment. CT volumetry of the SV was performed in clinical practice, and an SV increase ≥ 30% was considered the diagnostic indicator of oxaliplatin-induced SOS. We assessed whether HokUS-10 and SWE can lead to an early detection of oxaliplatin-induced SOS before an increased SV on CT. RESULTS: Of the 30 enrolled patients with gastrointestinal cancers, 12 (40.0%) with an SV increase ≥ 30% on CT were diagnosed with SOS. The HokUS-10 score was not correlated with an SV increase ≥ 30% (r = 0.18). The change in rate of three HokUS-10 parameters were correlated with an SV increase ≥ 30% (r = 0.32-0.41). The change in rate of LSM by SWE was correlated with an SV increase ≥ 30% (r = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of HokUS-10 score was not demonstrated; however, some HokUS-10 parameters and SWE could be useful for the early diagnosis of oxaliplatin-induced SOS.

Diagnostic Utility of Superb Microvascular Imaging and Power Doppler Ultrasonography for Visualizing Enriched Microvascular Flow in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Recent studies suggest that blood flow changes in the median nerve may help confirm a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Herein, we examined the utility of superb microvascular imaging (SMI), a new ultrasonographic (US) technique for visualizing microvascular flow, for detecting blood flow differences between CTS patients and healthy controls. We performed a retrospective analysis of 28 hands with suspected CTS. Patients received both nerve conduction and US examinations. Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled as the control group. The nerve compression ratio and the blood flow signal area were quantified using color Doppler US (CDUS), power Doppler US (PDUS), and SMI. Correlation analyses between the blood flow signal area, the compound muscle action potential of the thenar muscle, and the nerve compression ratio were performed. As a result, the mean nerve compression ratio was found to be significantly higher in the CTS group. There were no differences in the blood flow signal area between the groups using CDUS, while PDUS and SMI showed higher blood flow signals in the CTS group. The blood flow signal area measured by SMI had stronger correlations with the compound muscle action potential amplitude and the nerve compression ratio than those for PDUS. The diagnostic utility of SMI was equivalent to PDUS, but superior to conventional CDUS. Nevertheless, the blood flow signal by SMI was more strongly correlated with the electrophysiological severity and compression ratio than for PDUS. Use of SMI in future studies may help clarify the underlying mechanisms of blood flow changes in CTS.

The Combined Usage of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria and Controlling Nutrition Status Score in Acute Care Hospitals.

INTRODUCTION: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) lacks reliable blood tests for evaluating the nutrition status. We retrospectively compared the GLIM criteria, Controlling Nutrition Status (CONUT) score, and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) to establish effective malnutrition screening and provide appropriate nutritional interventions according to severity. METHODS: We classified 177 patients into 3 malnutrition categories (normal/mild, moderate, and severe) according to the GLIM criteria, CONUT score, and SGA. We investigated the malnutrition prevalence, concordance of malnutrition severity, predictability of clinical outcome, concordance by etiology, and clinical outcome by inflammation. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of malnutrition was found using the GLIM criteria (87.6%). Concordance of malnutrition severity was low between the GLIM criteria and CONUT score. Concordance by etiology was low in all groups but was the highest in the "acute disease" group. The area under the curve of clinical outcome and that of the "with inflammation group" were significantly higher when using the CONUT score versus using the other tools (0.679 and 0.683, respectively). CONCLUSION: The GLIM criteria have high sensitivity, while the CONUT score can effectively predict the clinical outcome of malnutrition. Their combined use can efficiently screen for malnutrition and patient severity in acute care hospitals.

Refined ultrasonographic criteria for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)/veno-occlusive disease is a life-threatening complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We previously reported the efficacy of the Hokkaido Ultrasonography (US)-based scoring system (HokUS-10) for US findings. To establish easier-to-use criteria, we retrospectively evaluated US findings from 441 patients, including 30 patients with SOS using the HokUS-10 scoring system. Using logistic regression analysis, we established the novel diagnostic criteria HokUS-6. In the presence of ascites, US diagnosis was made in the presence of two of the following 6 parameters: moderate amount of ascites, the appearance of a paraumbilical vein blood flow signal, gallbladder wall thickening, portal vein dilatation, portal vein velocity decrease, and hepatic artery resistive index increase. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of HokUS-6 were 0.974 (95% confidence interval 0.962-0.990), 95.2%, and 96.9%, respectively. The scores were significantly higher in patients with severe SOS than in those with non-severe SOS (p = 0.013). Furthermore, the scores before HSCT were significantly higher in patients who developed SOS than in controls (p = 0.001). The HokUS-6 is an easy and useful way to diagnose and identify the risk of SOS.

Reliability of an ultrasonographical scoring system for diagnosis of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)/hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a fatal complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We previously reported the usefulness of an ultrasonographical (US) scoring system, the Hokkaido US-based scoring system consisting of ten parameters (HokUS-10): (1) hepatomegaly in the left lobe and (2) right lobe, (3) dilatation of the main portal vein (PV), (4) hepatofugal flow in the main PV, (5) decreased velocity of the PV, (6) dilatation of the para-umbilical vein (PUV), (7) appearance of blood flow signal in the PUV, (8) gallbladder (GB) wall thickening, (9) ascites, and (10) increased resistive index of the hepatic artery, for the diagnosis of SOS/VOD. However, the reliability of this system among operators remains elusive. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated the reliability of HokUS-10. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy volunteers and 40 patients with liver dysfunction were enrolled. Inter- and intra-operator reliabilities were analyzed using three sonographers. RESULTS: The median concordance rate of HokUS-10 among three sonographers and intra-operator in 24 volunteers was 92% (95% CI: 73-98%) and 98% (95% CI: 92-100%), respectively. In all 64 cases, in terms of the reliability between two sonographers for three representative US parameters (amount of ascites, GB wall thickening, and appearance of PUV blood flow signal), the median concordance rate was more than 98% (95% CI: 86-106%). CONCLUSION: The inter- and intra-reliabilities of HokUS-10 were excellent. Thus, US might be a reliable tool for SOS/VOD diagnosis.

Usefulness of ultrasonography for diagnosing iatrogenic spinal accessory nerve palsy after lymph node needle biopsy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Spinal accessory nerve (SAN) palsy is rare in clinical settings. Iatrogenicity is the most common cause, with cervical lymph node biopsy accounting for > 50% of cases. However, SAN palsy after lymph node needle biopsy is extremely rare, and the injury site is difficult to identify because of the tiny needle mark. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with left neck pain and difficulty abducting and shrugging her left shoulder after left cervical lymph node needle biopsy. Five weeks earlier, a needle biopsy had been performed at the surgery clinic because of suspected histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. No trace of the needle biopsy site was found on the neck, but ultrasonography (US) showed SAN swelling within the posterior cervical triangle. At 3 months after the injury, her activities of daily living had not improved. Therefore, we decided to perform a surgical intervention after receiving informed consent. We performed neurolysis because the SAN was swollen in the area consistent with the US findings, and nerve continuity was preserved. Shoulder shrugging movement improved at 1 week postoperatively, and the trapezius muscle manual muscle testing score recovered to 5 at 1 year postoperatively. The swelling diameter on US gradually decreased from 1.8 mm preoperatively to 0.9 mm at 6 months. CONCLUSION: We experienced a rare case in which US was useful for iatrogenic SAN palsy. Our results suggest that preoperative US is useful for localization of SAN palsy and that postoperative US for morphological evaluation of the SAN can help assess recovery.

Novel Ultrasonographic Scoring System of Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)/hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a well-documented complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Transabdominal ultrasonography (US) enables the visualization of blood flow abnormalities and is therefore useful for the diagnosis of SOS/VOD. We herein prospectively evaluated accuracy of a novel US diagnostic scoring system of SOS/VOD based on US findings. We carried out US in 106 patients on day 14 and when SOS/VOD was suspected after allogeneic HSCT. Among 106 patients, 10 patients (9.4%) were diagnosed as SOS/VOD by Baltimore or Seattle criteria. According to univariate analysis of 17 US findings (US-17 screening), we established a novel scoring system (HokUS-10) consisting of 10 parameters, such as gallbladder wall thickening, ascites, and blood flow signal in the paraumbilical vein. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 95.8%, respectively. Diagnostic performance of the HokUS-10 was significantly better than US-17 screening. In 4 of 10 patients US detection of SOS/VOD preceded to clinical diagnosis. The HokUS-10 scoring system is useful in the diagnosis of SOS/VOD; however, our results should be validated in other cohorts.

Prevalence and Chronological Changes of Testicular Microlithiasis in Isolated Congenital Undescended Testes Operated On at Less Than 3 Years of Age.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the prevalence and chronological changes of testicular microlithiasis in isolated congenital undescended testes, retrospective chart review was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among children with palpable isolated undescended testes who underwent orchiopexy at less than 3 years of age between January 2009 and May 2016, those who had preoperative testicular ultrasonography were enrolled. Testicular microlithiasis was classified as limited or classic. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (54 unilateral undescended testes and 11 bilateral undescended testes) were enrolled. Preoperative evaluation demonstrated limited testicular microlithiasis in only 2 undescended testes in 2 patients (1 with unilateral undescended testes and 1 with bilateral undescended testes). Of these patients, 1 with unilateral undescended testes had limited testicular microlithiasis and the other with bilateral undescended testes had classic testicular microlithiasis after surgery. Among 53 unilateral undescended testes without microlithiasis preoperatively, limited and classic testicular microlithiasis was found in 1 and 6 testes, respectively, during follow-up. Testicular microlithiasis was identified in 2 on the contralateral descended testis of unilateral undescended testes postoperatively. Among 10 patients with bilateral undescended testes without microlithiasis preoperatively, limited testicular microlithiasis was detected in 4 during follow-up. Testicular microlithiasis was not diminished or resolved during follow-up. The overall prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in undescended testes (21.1%) was significantly higher than that in the contralateral descended testis in patients with unilateral undescended testes (3.7%) (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Most testicular microlithiasis was identified postoperatively and never improved. The prevalence of testicular microlithiasis in isolated congenital undescended testes increased with time even if operated on early in life.

Spontaneous Shrinkage of Testicular Teratoma in a Prepubertal Child.

Limited numbers of pediatric intratesticular cystic lesions have been reported. Although the majority of pediatric intratesticular cystic masses are benign, natural history of testicular cystic lesion in children has been rarely reported so far. We report a case of intratesticular cystic lesion in a prepubertal child who underwent testis sparing surgery after shrinkage during conservative follow-up. As an initial strategy for intratesticular cystic lesions in prepubertal children, observational approach with serial ultrasonographic evaluations may be a management of choice.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis of Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography With Perflubutane Microbubbles.

This paper proposes an automatic classification method based on machine learning in contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of focal liver lesions using the contrast agent Sonazoid. This method yields spatial and temporal features in the arterial phase, portal phase, and post-vascular phase, as well as max-hold images. The lesions are classified as benign or malignant and again as benign, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or metastatic liver tumor using support vector machines (SVM) with a combination of selected optimal features. Experimental results using 98 subjects indicated that the benign and malignant classification has 94.0% sensitivity, 87.1% specificity, and 91.8% accuracy, and the accuracy of the benign, HCC, and metastatic liver tumor classifications are 84.4%, 87.7%, and 85.7%, respectively. The selected features in the SVM indicate that combining features from the three phases are important for classifying FLLs, especially, for the benign and malignant classifications. The experimental results are consistent with CEUS guidelines for diagnosing FLLs. This research can be considered to be a validation study, that confirms the importance of using features from these phases of the examination in a quantitative manner. In addition, the experimental results indicate that for the benign and malignant classifications, the specificity without the post-vascular phase features is significantly lower than the specificity with the post-vascular phase features. We also conducted an experiment on the operator dependency of setting regions of interest and observed that the intra-operator and inter-operator kappa coefficients were 0.45 and 0.77, respectively.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI-GVHD) is a major and life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This study evaluated the efficacy of ultrasonography (US) for assessing and monitoring GI-GVHD. GI tract was evaluated by US in 81 patients. US findings were positive in 43 patients, including 11 false positive, and negative in 38 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of US for the diagnosis of GI-GVHD were 100%, 78%, 74%, 100%, and 86%, respectively. Diffuse wall thickening of the ileum was the most frequent finding in patients with GI-GVHD. Severity of GI-GVHD was correlated with the thickness of internal low echoic layer of the wall, the echogenicity of mesenteric fat tissue, and the intensity of Doppler signaling. We classified US findings of GI-GVHD into four US grades. There was a significant correlation between clinical stage of GI-GVHD and the US grade. These ultrasonographic abnormalities were improved with clinical improvement of GI-GVHD upon treatment. Thus, US is an effective and efficient non-invasive means of identifying the extent and severity of GI-GVHD and monitoring response to treatment.