Weiwei Zhan

Stiffness of the surrounding tissue of breast lesions evaluated by ultrasound elastography.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the stiffness of the surrounding tissue of breast lesions using the strain ratio assessment method by ultrasound (US) elastography.MethodsThis was an institutional ethics committee approved prospective study. A total of 127 breast lesions in 118 women (mean age 48.23 ± 14.32, range 20–90) were examined with conventional and elastographic US. The strain ratio assessment method was utilized to semi-quantitatively evaluate the stiffness of the breast lesions and the surrounding tissue.ResultsFifty-five lesions were malignant and 72 were benign. The strain ratio of the surrounding tissue was significantly higher in malignant cases (1.49 ± 0.67) than in benign ones (1.17 ± 0.44) (P = 0.001), and yielded an Az value of 0.669 in the diagnosis of breast lesions. There was a significant high positive correlation between the strain ratio of the lesion and the strain ratio of the surrounding tissue in the malignant group (r = 0.740, P < 0.001), and a significant moderate positive correlation in the benign group (r = 0.595, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe stiffness of the surrounding tissue of malignant breast lesions was higher than that of benign lesions. The strain ratio of the surrounding tissue and the lesions was significantly correlated, and has potential for breast lesion diagnosis.Key Points• Stiffness of the surrounding tissue of malignant breast lesions was increased.• Stiffness of the surrounding tissue correlated with stiffness of breast lesions.• Stiffness of the surrounding tissue has potential use in diagnosis of breast lesions.

Differences in Sonographic Features of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Between Neck Lymph Node Metastatic and Nonmetastatic Groups

The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma between neck lymph node metastatic and non‐metastatic groups.

Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced sonography in the assessment of breast tumor angiogenesis: correlation with microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

The purpose of this study was to differentiate perfusion and vascular characteristics between benign and malignant breast lesions by 3‐dimensional contrast‐enhanced sonography and evaluate their correlation with microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression for further clinical exploration.

Substantia nigra echogenicity correlated with clinical features of Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND Transcranial sonography can display structural alterations in the substantia nigra (SN) of patients with Parkinsons disease (PD), and is considered to be a potential useful tool for the diagnosis of PD. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between SN echogenicity and clinical features in Chinese patients with PD. METHODS A total of 420 subjects including 290 patients with PD and 130 controls were recruited from the neurological clinic or the community. Transcranial sonographic evaluations of the SN were performed in all subjects, and motor and non-motor symptoms were thoroughly assessed by a series of rating scales in PD patients. RESULTS Two hundred and one patients were successfully assessed by transcranial sonography. SN hyperechogenicity was found to be associated with male sex (p = 0.004), higher scores on the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part II (p = 0.001) and autonomic symptoms scores (p = 0.003). Moreover, regression analysis revealed that UPDRS part II scores (odds ratio = 1.141, p < 0.001) and gender (odds ratio = 2.409, p = 0.007) could be the independent predictors for SN hyperechogenicity; in addition, among all items of UPDRS part II, speech, dressing, hygiene, and turning in bed and adjusting bed clothes significantly correlated with SN hyperechogenicity. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report suggesting the correlation between SN echogenicity and UPDRS part II, and we conclude that increased SN echogenicity might reflect more severe disease disability or poorer medical response.

Role of Acoustic Shear Wave Velocity Measurement in Characterization of Breast Lesions

To analyze the value of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging quantification in characterization of breast lesions and to analyze the stiffness of glandular and subcutaneous fatty tissue in benign and malignant lesions.

Blood perfusion of the contralateral testis evaluated with contrast-enhanced ultrasound in rabbits with unilateral testicular torsion.

The changes of blood perfusion of contralateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion remain controversial. In this study, 28 New Zealand white male rabbits were randomly divided into five groups. Group A (n = 8), the control group, underwent a sham operation on the unilateral testis without inducing testicular torsion. In groups B, C, and D (n = 5 each), unilateral testicular torsion was induced, and, after 3, 6 or 24 h, respectively, detorsion was performed. In group E (n = 5), permanent unilateral testicular torsion was applied. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to observe the blood perfusion of the contralateral testis at the following stages: pre-torsion (preopration), immediately post-torsion (postopration), pre-detorsion, immediately post-detorsion, and late-stage post-detorsion (6-12 h post-detorsion in groups B-D) or at a similar time point (15-21 h post-torsion in group E). Time-intensity curves were generated, and the following parameters were derived and analyzed: arrival time, time to peak intensity, peak intensity, and half-time of the descending peak intensity. The analysis revealed that blood perfusion of the contralateral testis increased immediately after testicular torsion on the opposite side (P < 0.05), which increased with prolonged testicular torsion of the other testis. This research demonstrated that contrast-enhanced ultrasound was valuable in evaluating blood perfusion of the contralateral testis after unilateral testicular torsion.

Comparison of fine‐needle aspiration and fine‐needle capillary sampling of thyroid nodules: A prospective study with emphasis on the influence of nodule size

The objective of this study was to compare the sampling efficiency of ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) and fine‐needle capillary (FNC) sampling in thyroid nodules, in which the authors specifically analyzed the influence of nodule size.

Axillary Staging of Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer by Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology: Which Ultrasound Criteria for Classifying Abnormal Lymph Nodes Should Be Adopted in the Post-ACOSOG Z0011 Trial Era?

Ultrasound (US)‐guided fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is able to identify patients with extensive node involvement before surgery. In this study, we aimed to establish the optimal US criterion to identify abnormal lymph nodes on US‐guided FNAC for detection of patients with 3 or more metastatic axillary nodes.

Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules by a Scoring and Categorizing Method Based on Sonographic Features.

To assess sonographic features of thyroid nodules associated with malignancy and to establish a scoring and categorizing method based on sonographic features.

Ultrasound elastography of the supraspinatus tendon guided by US-MRI virtual navigation.

BACKGROUND A virtual navigation system (VNS) can combine two imaging modalities for synchronous observation and can be beneficial for diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasound elastography (UE) can distinguish between soft and hard tissues. However, the application of UE to musculoskeletal structures is rare. OBJECTIVE To evaluate UE of the supraspinatus tendon using ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging (US-MRI) virtual navigation. METHODS Sixty patients with an ache in the shoulder were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI. US-MRI virtual navigation was used to identify lesions in the supraspinatus tendon, and finally US elastography (UE) was performed. Volunteers whose supraspinatus tendons were diagnosed as normal by MRI were also selected for US elastography. The UE scores were then compared between patients and volunteers. RESULTS A total of 60 patients were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI and forty-two patients classified as Grade I exhibited no obvious abnormality by US. The supraspinatus tendon injury scores were significantly higher in Grade I patients compared with volunteers (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION US elastography is helpful for the diagnosis of the supraspinatus tendon injuries when used with US-MRI virtual navigation.