H.-J. Chiou

Comparison of shoulder ultrasound and MR imaging in diagnosing full-thickness rotator cuff tears

Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 422 cases were evaluated to compare the feasibility in diagnosing full-thickness rotator cuff tears (FTRCTs). On the basis of different US performers, they were divided into two groups: Group 1 performed by a 5-year experience technician and Group 2 performed by a 10-year experience radiologist. Sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy of US, and correlation between the two modalities were better in Group 2. When an expert is available, US can be used for diagnosing FTRCTs; otherwise, MRI should be performed.

Peritendinous lesions: the role of high-resolution ultrasonography.

PURPOSE To evaluate the peritendinous lesions over the extremities by high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors retrospectively collected 328 cases, focusing on peritendinous lesions in limbs. The diagnosis was made by US findings with long-term follow-up, aspiration and biopsy proved. RESULTS The most common disease entity in our study is ganglion (n=270), followed by Bakers cyst (n=24). Other disease entities included tenosynovitis, bursitis, gout, hematoma, amyloidosis, thrombophlebitis, and other tumor/tumor-like lesions, such as osteogenic sarcoma (OGS), schwannoma, lymphoma, myxoid lipomsarcoma, xanthoma, intramuscular cavernous hemangioma, pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS), giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath (GCTTS), etc. CONCLUSION Because of dynamic capabilities and aid of real-time sono-guided fine needle aspiration, HRUS becomes an efficient and inexpensive tool for musculoskeletal lesions, especially in the superficial parts.

Hepatic Venous Congestion After Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Quantitative Assessment of Liver Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography—A Case Report

We report a 49-year-old right lobe liver transplant recipient, who developed a significant anastomotic stenosis of the right hepatic vein shortly thereafter. Shear wave elastography (SWE) was applied to investigate liver stiffness quantitatively. It showed increased stiffness in the anterior compared with the posterior segment of right lobe graft. The stenotic right hepatic venous anastomosis was then managed by angioplasty with stent placement. SWE after angioplasty showed a gradual decrease in stiffness of the anterior segment, which was almost equal to the posterior segment at 2 weeks thereafter. Our experience suggested that SWE may be a noninvasive tool to assess alterations in liver stiffness secondary to hepatic venous congestion after liver transplantation.

Early Postoperative Spectral Doppler Parameters of Renal Transplants: The Effect of Donor and Recipient Factors

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to explore the donor and recipient factors related to the spectral Doppler parameters of the transplant kidney in the early posttransplantation period. METHODS This retrospective study included 76 patients who underwent renal transplantation assessed using Doppler ultrasonography (US) on the first postoperative day. We compared spectral Doppler parameters (peak systolic velocity [PSV] and resistive index [RI]) of the segmental artery of the transplant kidney according to the type of renal transplant, level of serum creatinine (SCr) of donor prior to organ donation, and donor/recipient age. RESULTS RI was significantly higher in deceased-donor kidney transplantation (DDKT) as compared with living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT; 0.73 ± 0.10 vs 0.66 ± 0.11; P = .007). In the DDKT recipients, multivariate analysis showed donor SCr was the only factor affecting PSV (P = .023), whereas recipient age was the only factor affecting RI (P = .035). In the LDKT recipients, multivariate analysis showed recipient age was the only factor affecting both PSV (P = .009) and RI (P = .018). CONCLUSION Spectral Doppler parameters in the early posttransplantation period are related to the type of renal transplant, donor renal function, and recipient age. These factors should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results of spectral Doppler US.