Influence of various breast factors on the quality of strain elastograms.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of the depth and size of breast lesions, the thickness of the adipose layer, and the thickness of the breast on the quality of strain elastograms obtained from Chinese women. METHODS: Ultrasound elastography was conducted on 326 breast lesions in 272 women. The quality of the images was evaluated according to criteria for satisfactory and unsatisfactory elastograms. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between measured factors and image quality. RESULTS: Among the 326 lesions, 300 (92%) had satisfactory images, and 26 (8%) had unsatisfactory images. Univariate analyses indicated that all of the data from the unsatisfactory group were higher than the data from the satisfactory group in terms of the distance from the deep and superficial edges of the lesion to the skin, the thickness of the adipose layer anterior to the lesion, and the breast thickness at the location of the lesion (all P < .05 ). Lesions in the unsatisfactory group were larger than those in the satisfactory group when the distance from the deep edge of the lesion to the skin was between 2.1 and 2.5 cm and the distance from the superficial edge of the lesion to the skin was between 1.6 and 2.3 cm (all P< .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both the distance from the superficial edge of the lesion to the skin (odds ratio, 18.335; P = .029) and the breast thickness at the location of the lesion (odds ratio, 20.447; P < .001) were the independent influencing factors that affected the quality of elastograms. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory images are more easily acquired if the lesion is relatively superficial or located in areas of thinner breast thickness. Furthermore, among deeper lesions, satisfactory images are more common in large lesions.

Area-Detector Computed Tomography for Pulmonary Functional Imaging.

An area-detector CT (ADCT) has a 320-detector row and can obtain isotropic volume data without helical scanning within an area of nearly 160 mm. The actual-perfusion CT data within this area can, thus, be obtained by means of continuous dynamic scanning for the qualitative or quantitative evaluation of regional perfusion within nodules, lymph nodes, or tumors. Moreover, this system can obtain CT data with not only helical but also step-and-shoot or wide-volume scanning for body CT imaging. ADCT also has the potential to use dual-energy CT and subtraction CT to enable contrast-enhanced visualization by means of not only iodine but also xenon or krypton for functional evaluations. Therefore, systems using ADCT may be able to function as a pulmonary functional imaging tool. This review is intended to help the reader understand, with study results published during the last a few decades, the basic or clinical evidence about (1) newly applied reconstruction methods for radiation dose reduction for functional ADCT, (2) morphology-based pulmonary functional imaging, (3) pulmonary perfusion evaluation, (4) ventilation assessment, and (5) biomechanical evaluation.

Application value of Hisense computer-assisted surgery system three-dimensional reconstru-tion in precision treatment of pediatric liver tumors / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the application value of Hisense computer-assisted surgery system (CAS) three-dimensional reconstruction in the precision treatment of pediatric liver tumors.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 82 children with liver tumors who were admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2013 to September 2021 were collected. There were 39 males and 43 females, aged 13(19)months. Children underwent upper abdominal dynamic enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination, and three-dimensional reconstruction was performed on CT images of arterial, equili-brium and venous phases with Hisense CAS. Surgical feasibility and scheme were evaluated and conducted based on the results of upper abdominal dynamic enhanced CT examination, and then revised according to three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS. Observation indicators: (1) comparison of surgical scheme between two-dimensional enhanced CT images and three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS; (2) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient examination to detect postoperative compli-cations and residual liver compensation up to November 2021. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(IQR) or M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages. Results:(1) Comparison of surgical scheme between two-dimensional CT images and three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS. ① Based on the two-dimensional CT images, 42 cases of 82 children could undergo one-stage resection and 40 children could not. However, based on the three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS, 48 cases of 82 children could undergo one-stage resection and 34 children could not. There were 6 children with one-stage resection feasibility based on the three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS rather than the two-dimensional CT images. For the 34 children undergoing chemotherapy firstly, 31 cases had surgical feasibility after chemotherapy based on the two-dimensional CT images and 3 cases could not undergo surgery because of unapparent tumor regression or tumor surrounding impor-tant vessels. However, the 34 children had surgical feasibility after chemotherapy based on the three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS. The revision rate of surgical feasibility was 11.0%(9/82) for the 82 children. ② Based on the two-dimensional CT images, 15 cases of 82 children underwent liver left lobectomy, 21 cases underwent liver right lobectomy, 7 cases underwent mesohepatectomy, 13 cases underwent extended left hemihepatectomy, 23 cases underwent extended right hemihepatectomy, 3 cases underwent segmental hepatectomy. However, based on the three-dimensional reconstruction results of Hisense CAS, 20 cases of 82 children underwent liver left lobectomy, 29 cases underwent liver right lobectomy, 7 cases underwent mesohepatectomy, 7 cases underwent extended left hemihepatectomy, 14 cases underwent extended right hemihepatectomy, 5 cases underwent segmental hepatectomy. The revision rate of surgical scheme was 36.6%(30/82) for the 82 children. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative hospital stay of the 82 children were (182±18)minutes, 20(10)mL, (10.2±1.9)days, respectively. (3) Follow-up. All the 82 children were followed up for 10 (range, 2?18)months. There was no obvious complication occurred to the 82 children after surgery, and the residual liver can satisfy the liver compensation of body. All the children survived well.Conclusion:Three-dimensional reconstruction of Hisense CAS is conducive to judging the surgical feasibility and formulation of accurate surgical plan of children with liver tumors.

Clinical Significance of Pelvic Peritonization in Laparoscopic Dixon Surgery / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pelvic floor peritoneum reconstruction is a key step in various standard resections for open radical rectal cancer. However, during endoscopic surgery, most surgeons do not close the pelvic floor peritoneum. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of pelvic peritonization during laparoscopic Dixon surgery using an observational study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 189 patients, who underwent laparoscopic Dixon surgery at Tianjin Union Medical Center, China, were analyzed retrospectively. All of the cases were divided into two groups according to the differences of surgical procedure. The 92 patients in Group A (observation group) underwent pelvic peritonization and the 97 patients in Group B (control group) did not undergo this procedure. Postoperative complications were observed in the two groups, compared, and analyzed using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of anastomotic leakage was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (P = 0.014). A significant difference was found in the postoperative short-term (P = 0.029) and long-term (P = 0.029) ileus rates between the two groups, with Group A exhibiting a lower rate than Group B. Patients in Group A had significantly lower rates of postoperative infections than those in Group B (χ2 = 7.606, P = 0.006; χ2 = 4.464, P = 0.035). Patients in Group A had significantly lower rates of deep venous thrombosis than those in Group B (χ2 = 8.531, P = 0.003).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Pelvic peritonization effectively reduces postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leakage, which warrants its increased use in laparoscopic surgery.</p>