Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 64, issue 2

Authors: Yan, Shuo | Wang, Zhiye | Li, Li | Guo, Yu | Ji, Xiaodong | Ni, Hongyan | Shen, Wen | Xia, Shuang

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSES: To compare the characteristics of DCE-MRI between metastatic and benign lymph nodes (LNs). To explore the effect of sizes of LNs on the value of Ktrans , Ve and iAUC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Metastatic and benign LNs were retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test and two sample t -test were applied to TICs and parameters. One factor covariance analysis was used to explore the effect of diameters on the value of Ktrans , Ve and iAUC. RESULTS: The value of Ktrans , Ve and iAUC of metastatic LNs were statistically higher (all p  < 0.001) than those …of benign LNs. The short-axis diameters had no influence on parameters. CONCLUSIONS: DCE-MRI is useful to differentiate the metastatic LNs from benign LNs. Sizes of LNs has no effect on parameters. Show more

Keywords: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, lymph node, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

DOI: 10.3233/CH-162065

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 213-222, 2016

Authors: Yao, Ming-hua | Wu, Rong | Xu, Guang | Zhao, Li-xia | Liu, Hui | Pu, Huan | Fang, Yan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ), a form of shear wave elastography, may help in the diagnosis of breast lesions. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of combined VTIQ and conventional ultrasound (US), and assess the factors influencing VTIQ measurement. METHODS: From September 2014 to December 2014, 162 patients with breast lesions were examined by US and VTIQ to assess shear wave speed (SWS) and morphological characteristics (lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of VTIQ, US and VTIQ+US for the diagnosis of breast lesions was evaluated in …comparison to pathological results. Factors influencing deviations in SWS measurements were assessed by logistic regression. RESULTS: The SWS cut-off between malignant and benign lesions was 3.73 m/s. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were: 98.07%, 55.96%, and 69.57% for US; 76.92%, 78.89% and 78.26% for VTIQ; and 98.07%, 84.40% and 88.82% for US+VTIQ. The two factors that influenced the SWS results were the lesion margin (odds ratio [OR], 16.363; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.220–29.020) and vascularity (OR, 6.712; 95% CI, 1.358–9.072). CONCLUSIONS: The lesion margin and vascularity could affect the measurement of SWS as well as the experience of examiner. However, VTIQ is still a reliable method that provides valuable information in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions, and may reduce unnecessary biopsies. Show more

Keywords: Elastography, breast cancer, VTIQ, ultrasound

DOI: 10.3233/CH-16188

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 223-233, 2016

Authors: Chen, Ying-pei | Han, Ting | Wu, Rong | Yao, Ming-hua | Xu, Guang | Zhao, Li-xia | Liu, Hui | Pu, Huan | Fang, Yan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) with Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) or Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification (VTIQ) measures shear wave velocity (SWV), which is proportional to tissue stiffness, a diagnostic parameter for malignancy. OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of VTQ and VTIQ in diagnosing solid breast tumors. METHODS: Conventional ultrasound, VTQ and VTIQ were used to examine 246 solid breast tumors from 230 patients. Tumors were grouped according to size: <10 mm, 10–20 mm, >20 mm. Pathological diagnoses were via histological examination of biopsies. ROC curves were used to assess diagnostic performance and optimal cut-off …points for VTQ and VTIQ. RESULTS: For all sizes, SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were higher for malignant versus benign tumors (P  < 0.05). SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were both higher for tumors≥10 mm (P  < 0.05). Areas under the ROC curves (diagnostic performance index; 0.860–0.952) did not differ significantly between VTQ and VTIQ. Optimal cut-off values for SWVVTQ and SWVVTIQ were higher for tumors≥10 mm. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of VTQ and VTIQ was moderate to good for solid breast tumors. Although both methods have higher sensitivities in tumors≥10 mm, their overall diagnostic performance was similar for all sizes. Show more

Keywords: Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification, Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification, shear wave velocity, breast tumor, tumor size

DOI: 10.3233/CH-16192

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 235-244, 2016

Authors: Rafailidis, Vasileios | Charitanti, Afroditi | Tegos, Thomas | Rafailidis, Dimitrios | Chryssogonidis, Ioannis

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Carotid plaque ulceration is a well-established feature of vulnerability, associated with high risk for neurological symptoms. From a pathogenetic point of view, the mechanism responsible for occurrence of symptomatology relies on the aggregation of platelets within the ulcer cavity, activation of coagulation mechanism, formation of thrombus and arterio-arterial embolization of thrombotic material in the central nervous system. Many imaging modalities including unenhanced ultrasound, computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance angiography have been used to image and diagnose carotid plaque ulceration with varying success. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has been recently introduced in the study of carotid disease offering improved flow visualization and …better plaque surface delineation. We present a case where contrast-enhanced ultrasound visualized the swirling pattern of movement of the microbubbles within the ulcer cavity. These findings illustrate the underlying hemodynamic mechanism of arterio-arterial embolization and can be proposed as a new finding of plaque ulcerations on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Show more

Keywords: Carotid, ulceration, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, microbubbles, swirling

DOI: 10.3233/CH-16200

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 245-250, 2016