Informe de la Sociedad Española de Ultrasonidos (SEUS) sobre delegación y transferencia de competencias en ecografía a los técnicos de radiología / Report of the Spanish Society of Ultrasound (SEUS) about the delegation and transfer of responsibility in ultrasonography to radiology technologists

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Utilidad de la ecografía con contraste en la práctica clínica diaria. Estudio multicéntrico español CEUS / Usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in daily clinical practice: A multicenter study in Spain

Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio multicéntrico ha sido evaluar si la ecografía con contraste permite aumentar el rendimiento diagnóstico de la ecografía basal. Material y métodos: En este estudio prospectivo multicéntrico realizado en 42 hospitales se incluyeron 1.786 pacientes con estudios ecográficos considerados como no concluyentes. El 84,9% fueron ecografías abdominales (incluyendo estudios hepáticos, renales, esplénicos y de otras localizaciones), el 6,2% fueron estudios vasculares periféricos, el 4,3% fueron estudios mamarios y el 4,6% fueron estudios de otras localizaciones. Se evaluó el tipo de ecografía con contraste (Doppler color o método específico de contraste), el tipo de contraste, la dosis y el número de dosis y el tipo de administración (en forma de bolo o infusión). Sobre los hallazgos obtenidos en la ecografía con contraste se valoró si conseguía aumentar el rendimiento diagnóstico de la ecografía basal y si permitía un diagnóstico concluyente. Resultados: El 99,9% de los estudios se realizó con SonoVue, con una dosis de contraste (84,8%) y en forma de bolo (98,5%). En el 91,6% de los casos la ecografía con contraste aumentó el rendimiento diagnóstico de la ecografía basal, y en el 69,2% permitió un diagnóstico de certeza. El mayor rendimiento diagnóstico se obtuvo en los estudios de troncos supraaórticos con un diagnóstico definitivo en el 95,4% de los casos, seguido por el área abdominal con resultado concluyente en el 72,6% de los casos. Conclusiones: El uso de la ecografía con contraste aumentó significativamente el rendimiento diagnóstico de la ecografía basal, y se obtuvo un resultado concluyente en la mayoría de los casos (AU)

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether the use of ultrasonographic contrast agents improves the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US).Material and methods: We carried out a prospective multicenter study in 42 hospitals. We included 1786 patients with inconclusive US; 84.9% of the inconclusive studies were abdominal US (including studies of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and other sites), 6.2% were studies of the peripheral vessels, 4.3% were breast studies, and 4.6% were other studies. We evaluated the type of contrast-enhanced US (color Doppler or contrast-specific method), type of contrast agent, dose and number of doses, and type of administration (bolus or infusion). We evaluated whether the findings at contrast-enhanced US improved the diagnostic performance of unenhanced US and whether they enabled a conclusive diagnosis to be reached. Results: The contrast agent SonoVue was used in 99.9% of the studies; a single dose of contrast agent was used in 84.8%, and the contrast agent was administered in bolus in 98.5%. Contrast-enhanced US improved the diagnostic performance in 91.6% of cases and enabled the conclusive diagnosis in 69.2%. The best diagnostic performance was obtained in the supraaortic trunks, where a definitive diagnosis was reached in 95.4% of cases, followed by the abdominal area, with a conclusive diagnosis in 72.6% of cases. Conclusions: The use of contrast-enhanced US significantly improved the diagnostic performance of US and enabled a conclusive diagnosis in most cases (AU)

[Usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in daily clinical practice: a multicenter study in Spain]. / Utilidad de la ecografía con contraste en la práctica clínica diaria. Estudio multicéntrico español CEUS.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether the use of ultrasonographic contrast agents improves the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective multicenter study in 42 hospitals. We included 1786 patients with inconclusive US; 84.9% of the inconclusive studies were abdominal US (including studies of the liver, kidneys, spleen, and other sites), 6.2% were studies of the peripheral vessels, 4.3% were breast studies, and 4.6% were other studies. We evaluated the type of contrast-enhanced US (color Doppler or contrast-specific method), type of contrast agent, dose and number of doses, and type of administration (bolus or infusion). We evaluated whether the findings at contrast-enhanced US improved the diagnostic performance of unenhanced US and whether they enabled a conclusive diagnosis to be reached. RESULTS: The contrast agent SonoVue was used in 99.9% of the studies; a single dose of contrast agent was used in 84.8%, and the contrast agent was administered in bolus in 98.5%. Contrast-enhanced US improved the diagnostic performance in 91.6% of cases and enabled the conclusive diagnosis in 69.2%. The best diagnostic performance was obtained in the supraaortic trunks, where a definitive diagnosis was reached in 95.4% of cases, followed by the abdominal area, with a conclusive diagnosis in 72.6% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The use of contrast-enhanced US significantly improved the diagnostic performance of US and enabled a conclusive diagnosis in most cases.

[Noninvasive diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis]. / Diagnóstico de la arteritis de Takayasu mediante técnicas no invasivas.

OBJECTIVES: Takayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory obliterative disease of the great vessels that mainly affects the aorta and its primary branches. In its early phase, the clinical presentation and laboratory tests are nonspecific, so accurate diagnosis frequently depends on imaging studies. The aim of this study was to review the main features of Takayasu's arteritis and the usefulness of different noninvasive imaging techniques in the early diagnosis and follow-up of this entity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 12 patients diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis at our center. We retrospectively reviewed the different imaging studies (color Doppler US, multislice CT, and magnetic resonance) employed in each case. RESULTS: The abdominal aorta and its main branches (renal arteries, superior mesenteric artery, and celiac trunk) were involved in 8 of the 12 patients studied. This involvement was detected as increased velocities in Doppler US that were suggestive of stenosis and was later confirmed on CT angiography and MR angiography. In four patients, CT angiography and MRI angiography demonstrated diffuse and homogeneous vessel wall thickening; in two patients, these techniques also showed enhancement of the thickened walls after contrast administration that suggested active inflammatory disease. Another frequent finding was supra-aortic trunk involvement, which was seen in six cases. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive imaging techniques are fundamental in the early diagnosis of patients with Takayasu's arteritis. CT angiography and MR angiography provide additional information about the inflammatory activity of the disease.

Diagnóstico de la arteritis de Takayasu mediante técnicas no invasivas / Noninvasive diagnosis of Takayasu´s arteritis

Objetivos: La arteritis de Takayasu es una enfermedad crónica, inflamatoria y obliterativa de los grandes vasos, con predilección por la aorta y sus ramas principales. La frecuente inespecificidad clínica y analítica hace que el diagnóstico final dependa, en gran medida, de los estudios de imagen. Este trabajo pretende revisar las manifestaciones de esta enfermedad, así como la utilidad de las distintas pruebas de imagen no invasivas en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de estos pacientes. Material y métodos: Se incluyen 12 pacientes diagnosticados de arteritis de Takayasu en nuestro centro, y se revisan retrospectivamente los distintos estudios de imagen realizados: ecografía Doppler color, tomografía computarizada (TC) multicorte y resonancia magnética (RM).Resultados: En 8 de los 12 pacientes revisados se detectó como alteración fundamental la afectación de la aorta abdominal y sus ramas principales (arterias renales, arteria mesentérica superior y tronco celíaco). Dicha afectación se detectó como un aumento de las velocidades en el estudio Doppler-color sugestivo de estenosis, que se confirmó con angio-TC y angio-RM. En 4 casos la angio-TC y la angio-RM mostraron engrosamiento difuso y homogéneo de la pared, en 2 de ellos se apreció captación de contraste, como signo sugestivo de inflamación activa. Otra manifestación frecuente fue la afectación de troncos supraaórticos, que se objetivó en 6 pacientes. Conclusión: Las técnicas de imagen no invasivas son fundamentales en el diagnóstico inicial de los pacientes con enfermedad de Takayasu. La angiografía por TC y RM aporta datos adicionales al ser una herramienta útil para valorar la actividad inflamatoria del proceso (AU)

Objectives: Takayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory obliterative disease of the great vessels that mainly affects the aorta and its primary branches. In its early phase, the clinical presentation and laboratory tests are nonspecific, so accurate diagnosis frequently depends on imaging studies. The aim of this study was to review the main features of Takayasu's arteritis and the usefulness of different noninvasive imaging techniques in the early diagnosis and follow-up of this entity. Material and methods: We included 12 patients diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis at our center. We retrospectively reviewed the different imaging studies (color Doppler US, multislice CT, and magnetic resonance) employed in each case. Results: The abdominal aorta and its main branches (renal arteries, superior mesenteric artery, and celiac trunk) were involved in 8 of the 12 patients studied. This involvement was detected as increased velocities in Doppler US that were suggestive of stenosis and was later confirmed on CT angiography and MR angiography. In four patients, CT angiography and MRI angiography demonstrated diffuse and homogeneous vessel wall thickening; in two patients, these techniques also showed enhancement of the thickened walls after contrast administration that suggested active inflammatory disease. Another frequent finding was supra-aortic trunk involvement, which was seen in six cases. Conclusion: Noninvasive imaging techniques are fundamental in the early diagnosis of patients with Takayasu's arteritis. CT angiography and MR angiography provide additional information about the inflammatory activity of the disease (AU)

Collateral biliary circulation in portal hypertension syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: to describe collateral circulation in the gallbladder wall in relation with portal hypertension syndrome, and to determine whether this syndrome is frequently associated portal vein thrombosis. METHODS: images were retrospectively reviewed for 9 patients with previously diagnosed portal hypertension syndrome, in whom ultrasound results suggested the presence of varices of the cystic vein. RESULTS: four patients showed signs suggesting portal vein thrombosis. The gallbladder wall showed diffuse hypoechoic thickening in all patients, 7 of whom had intramural dilation of tubular, tortuous appearance. Ultrasound findings, however, were not very specific, and differential diagnosis with a large number of other entities is required to rule out other possible causes of focal and diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall. The use of Doppler sonographic techniques made it possible to determine the cause of the varices, and to confirm suspicions of portal thrombosis. This method was found to be just as sensitive as ultrasound imaging, and much more specific. Angiograms obtained in 3 patients for different reasons confirmed the ultrasonographic findings in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: this study confirms the association between thromboses and varices, and analyzes the physiopathological hypotheses invoked to explain this association. We emphasize the need for correct diagnosis, given the frequency of surgical iatrogenic bleeding or misdiagnosis resulting from confusion with other possible causes of gallbladder wall thickening. Doppler ultrasound is considered the ideal diagnostic method as it is harmless, sensitive and specific.

Flow changes in forearm arteries after elevating the radial forearm flap: prospective study using color duplex imaging.

The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in flow patterns of forearm arteries produced by excision of the radial artery when harvesting the radial forearm flap. A prospective study using color duplex imaging for quantitative flow measurements was accomplished in 11 patients. After raising the radial flap, the forearm flow tended to increase overall, the ulnar (P = 0.04), the posterior interosseous (P = 0.003), and the anterior interosseous (P = 0.003) arteries being responsible for this tendency. Therefore, harvesting of a radial flap must not be considered as causing vascular morbidity in terms of blood supply to the hand.

Analysis of flow changes in forearm arteries after raising the radial forearm flap: a prospective study using colour duplex imaging.

The purpose of this study is to assess the changes in flow patterns of forearm arteries produced by excision of the radial artery when harvesting the radial forearm flap, in order to clarify its vascular morbidity rationally. Eleven patients with elective surgery using the radial flap were included in this investigation. A prospective study was designed using colour duplex imaging for quantitative flow measurement in two stages: a few days before the operation, a first colour duplex scanning examination was done recording flow velocity and vessel section area from the radial, ulnar, posterior interosseous and anterior interosseous arteries around the wrist. Volumetric parameters and relative blood flow percentages were calculated and compared to those obtained from a second similar vascular investigation accomplished in the same limb 4-5 months after the operation. Statistical analysis was done using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test. After raising the radial forearm flap there was a trend for increased overall forearm flow (from 162 to 215 ml/min, P = 0.09 N.S.), the ulnar (P = 0.04), the posterior interosseous (P = 0.004) and the anterior interosseous (P = 0.003) arteries being responsible for this tendency. The anterior interosseous artery showed the greatest increase in blood (from 8.2 to 67.7 ml/min), reaching a relative flow percentage (33%) close to that of the radial artery before its excision (39%). Results of this study indicate that another 'major vascular axis' based on the anterior interosseous artery develops after sacrificing the radial artery and that global arterial inflow to the hand is not impaired.

Angiologic observations following radial artery flap elevation: a case report.

Since the introduction of the radial forearm flap in 1981, its inherent vascular morbidity in sacrificing the radial artery has been strongly criticized. In the present paper, a case report is presented where postoperative angiography showed an important contribution of the anterior interosseous artery to hand vascularity two years after raising a reverse flow distally based pedicle radial forearm flap for dorsal hand resurfacing. In order to analyze this finding, further vascular investigations using Color Duplex Imaging examinations for quantitative flow measurements comparing blood flow rates in both right and left forearm arteries were carried out in this patient. Contrary to expectations, results from vascular examinations revealed that overall blood flow in donor forearm arteries was greater than in the contralateral forearm, the anterior interosseous artery showing the greatest difference in blood flow. These data seem to indicate that another major vascular axis based on the anterior interosseous artery develops after removing the radial artery when harvesting the radial forearm flap and that global arterial inflow to the hand is not impaired.

[Comparative study of misoprostol and nifedipine in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic diseases. Hemodynamic assessment with Doppler duplex]. / Estudio comparativo de misoprostol y nifedipino en el tratamiento del fenómeno de Raynaud secundario a enfermedades sistémicas. Valoración hemodinámica mediante Doppler-dúplex.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mid-term efficiency and therapeutic safety at a mid term of the orally administered misoprostol, a synthetic PGE1, analogue, compared with nifedipine for the treatment of RP secondary to autoimmune systemic diseases. METHODS: A double blind, crossover study was designed. Patients were randomly distributed to receive either retard nifedipine (20 mg/12 hourly) and misoprostol (200 micrograms/12 hourly) in 10-day periods (washing period with placebo for 10 days). At the end of each period a clinical assessment was obtained on the frequency and severity of symptoms as well as on secondary drug reactions. Simultaneously, blood flow changes in radial artery were Doppler-duplex investigated (pulsatility index, resistance index). RESULTS: Twenty patients were studied (15 women and 5 men). The mean basal daily frequency of attacks was 4.8 +/- 2.0 compared with 2.4 +/- 1.4 with nifedipine (p < 0.001) and 2.6 +/- 1.2 with misoprostol (p < 0.001). The mean basal severity of attacks, according to a pre-established scale decreased from 3.7 +/- 0.6 to 1.9 +/- 0.9 with nifedipine (p < 0.001) and to 2.0 +/- 1.0 with misoprostol (p < 0.001). The mean basal value of blood flow in radial artery was 24.9 +/- 14.4 ml/min; with nifedipine it increased to 43.0 +/- 19.2 ml/min (p < 0.001) and with misoprostol to 46.9 +/- 19.2 ml/min (p < 0.001). Five patients (25%) had secondary effects with nifedipine and three (15%) with misoprostol; in no case had therapy to be discontinued. CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol was similar to nifedipine for the treatment of Raynaud phenomenon secondary to systemic diseases and can be a therapeutic alternative for these patients.