Inter-Reader Agreement for Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Major Features and Final Categorization: A Subanalysis From a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Objectives: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is used to definitively diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients at risk. However, the user variability associated with CEUS LI-RADS has not been validated in North American and European patients. This study aims to evaluate the inter-reader agreements of CEUS LI-RADS features for, and final categorization of, HCC in patients at risk.

Combining CEUS and CT/MRI LI-RADS major imaging features: diagnostic accuracy for classification of indeterminate liver observations in patients at risk for HCC.

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of combining CEUS and CT/MRI LI-RADS major imaging features for the improved categorization of liver observations indeterminate on both CT/MRI and CEUS.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis using a database from a prospective study conducted at 11 centers in North America and Europe from 2018 to 2022 included a total of 109 participants at risk for HCC who had liver observations with indeterminate characterization (LR3, LR-4, and LR-M) on both CEUS and CT/MRI. The individual CEUS and CT/MRI LI-RADS major features were extracted from the original study and analyzed in various combinations.

Diagnostic performance of ultrasound vs. ultrasound-guided FNAc in thyroid nodules: data from the ElaTION trial.

Introduction: ElaTION is a large multi-centre pragmatic randomised controlled trial, performed in 18 secondary/tertiary hospitals across England, comparing elastography ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNAC) with ultrasound-guided FNAC (US-FNAC) alone in the diagnostic assessment of thyroid nodules. Secondary trial outcomes, reported here, assessed the accuracy of ultrasound-alone (US) compared with US-guided FNAC to inform and update current practice guidelines.

Methods: Adults with single or multiple thyroid nodules who had not undergone previous FNAC were eligible.

A review of multiparametric ultrasound imaging in the clinical setting: scrotal contents.

The innovative techniques in ultrasound have added a new dimension to investigating superficially located areas such as the contents of the scrotal sac. High frequency transducers, improved technology with the addition of elastography, contrast enhanced ultrasound and microvascular imaging has resulted in a further improvement in diagnostic capabilities. The ability to clearly demonstrate the presence or absence of vascularity within the area under investigation adds an additional dimension to operator confidence in establishing the presence of infarction, global or segmental, or the walls and cavity of an abscess in the testis or epididymis.

Quantitative Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Based Elastography for Chronic Liver Disease: Practical Guidance, From the Special Series on Quantitative Imaging.

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and ultrasound-based elastography techniques are emerging as non-invasive effective methods for assessing chronic liver disease. They are more accurate than B-mode imaging alone and more accessible than MRI as alternatives to liver biopsy. Early detection and monitoring of diffuse liver processes such as steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis play an important role in guiding patient management.

Real-time ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of newly identified thyroid nodules in adults: the ElaTION RCT.

Background: Strain and shear wave elastography which is commonly used with concurrent real-time imaging known as real-time ultrasound shear/strain wave elastography is a new diagnostic technique that has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis of nodules in several organs. There is conflicting evidence regarding its benefit over ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology alone in thyroid nodules.

Objectives: To determine if ultrasound strain and shear wave elastography in conjunction with fine-needle aspiration cytology will reduce the number of patients who have a non-diagnostic first fine-needle aspiration cytology results as compared to conventional ultrasound-only guided fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Follow-up of non-palpable testicular incidentalomas under 1 cm: does growth rate differentiate malignant and non-malignant lesions?

Objective: To determine whether small, incidentally detected testicular lesions can be safely followed up, by assessing growth rate and volume threshold for benign vs. malignant lesions.

Methods: This retrospective observational study includes a consecutive series of 130 testicular incidentalomas < 1 cm and with negative tumour markers identified from October 2001 to November 2022, which were initially followed up with ultrasound.

Multiparametric Ultrasound for Focal Testicular Pathology: A Ten-Year Retrospective Review.

Conventional ultrasonography (US), including greyscale imaging and colour Doppler US (CDUS), is pivotal for diagnosing scrotal pathologies, but it has limited specificity. Historically, solid focal testicular abnormalities often led to radical orchidectomy. This retrospective study evaluated the utilisation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and strain elastography (SE) in investigating intratesticular focal abnormalities.

Multiparametric Ultrasound for Diagnosing Testicular Lesions: Everything You Need to Know in Daily Clinical Practice.

Background: Ultrasonography (US) represents the gold standard imaging method for the assessment of testicular lesions (TL). The gray-scale (GSUS) and color-Doppler (CDUS) ultrasound examination allow sonographers to investigate the size, margins, echotexture, and vascular features of TLs with the aim to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Recently, the use of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) and sonoelastography (SE) has led to further improvements in the differential diagnosis of TL.

Diversity of current ultrasound practice within and outside radiology departments with a vision for 20 years into the future: a position paper of the ESR ultrasound subcommittee.

Ultrasound practice is a longstanding tradition for radiology departments, being part of the family of imaging techniques. Ultrasound is widely practiced by non-radiologists but becoming less popular within radiology. The position of ultrasound in radiology is reviewed, and a possible long-term solution to manage radiologist expectations is proposed.

Assessment of arterial-phase hyperenhancement and late-phase washout of hepatocellular carcinoma-a meta-analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with SonoVue® and Sonazoid®.

Objectives: The recognition of arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and washout during the late phase is key for correct diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). This meta-analysis was conducted to compare SonoVue®-enhanced and Sonazoid®-enhanced ultrasound in the assessment of HCC enhancement and diagnosis.

Methods: Studies were included in the analysis if they reported data for HCC enhancement in the arterial phase and late phase for SonoVue® or in the arterial phase and Kupffer phase (KP) for Sonazoid®.

Utility of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in penile trauma.

Penile traumatic injuries are rare with potentially severe consequences, with clinical assessment challenging due to pain and swelling. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for assessing the penis. It has a high spatial resolution and rapid availability and is portable.

Ultrasonic Sound Speed Estimation for Liver Fat Quantification: A Review by the AIUM-RSNA QIBA Pulse-Echo Quantitative Ultrasound Initiative.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant cause of diffuse liver disease, morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis of NALFD is critical to identify patients at risk of disease progression. Liver biopsy is the current gold standard for diagnosis and prognosis.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system: clinical validation in a prospective multinational study in North America and Europe.

Background And Aims: The objective of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the American College of Radiology Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System LR-5 characterization for HCC diagnosis in North American or European patients.

Approach And Results: A prospective multinational cohort study was performed from January 2018 through November 2022 at 11 academic and nonacademic centers in North America and Europe. Patients at risk for HCC with at least 1 liver observation not previously treated, identified on ultrasound (US), or multiphase CT or MRI performed as a part of standard clinical care were eligible for the study.

EFSUMB Clinical Practice Guidelines for Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Part One (Common Heart and Pulmonary Applications) LONG VERSION.

Aims:  To evaluate the evidence and produce a summary and recommendations for the most common heart and lung applications of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS).

Methods:  We reviewed 10 clinical domains/questions related to common heart and lung applications of PoCUS. Following review of the evidence, a summary and recommendation were produced, including assignment of levels of evidence (LoE) and grading of the recommendation, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE).

EFSUMB Clinical Practice Guidelines for Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Part One (Common Heart and Pulmonary Applications) SHORT VERSION.

Objective:  To evaluate the evidence and produce a summary and recommendations for the most common heart and lung point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS).

Methods:  We reviewed 10 clinical domains/questions related to common heart and lung applications of PoCUS. Following review of the evidence, a summary and recommendations were produced, including assigning levels of evidence (LoE) and grading of recommendation, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE).

Microvascular Flow Imaging: A State-of-the-Art Review of Clinical Use and Promise.

Vascular imaging with color and power Doppler is a useful tool in the assessment of various disease processes. Assessment of blood flow, from infarction and ischemia to hyperemia, in organs, neoplasms, and vessels, is used in nearly every US investigation. Recent developments in this area are sensitive to small-vessel low velocity flow without use of intravenous contrast agents, known as microvascular flow imaging (MVFI).

Comparison Between Different Manufacturers' 2-D and Point Shear Wave Elastography Techniques in Staging Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Disease Using Liver Biopsy as the Reference Standard: A Prospective Study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of 2-D shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease by comparing its performance with that of point shear wave elastography (pSWE) using liver histological staging as the reference standard. In this ethics committee-approved, single-institution prospective study, pSWE and 2-D SWE velocity measurements were obtained in 121 adult patients (age: 18-70 y, median: 45 y) immediately before a liver biopsy for chronic liver disease. Shear wave velocity (SWV) and Ishak scores were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Point-of-care contrast enhanced lung ultrasound and COVID-19.

Objectives: Bedside lung ultrasound has been indispensable during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, allowing us to rapidly assess critically unwell patients. We demonstrate the unique application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound with the aim of further understanding this disease.

Methods: Patient demographics were recorded alongside recent cross-sectional imaging and inflammatory markers.

Professional Standards in Medical Ultrasound - EFSUMB Position Paper (Short Version) - General Aspects.

This first position paper of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) on professional standards presents a common position across the different medical professions within EFSUMB regarding optimal standards for the performing and reporting of ultrasound examinations by any professional ultrasound operator. It describes general aspects of professionality that ensure procedure quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability in virtually all application fields of medical ultrasound. Recommendations are given related to safety and indication of ultrasound examinations, requirements for examination rooms, structured examination, systematic reporting of results, and management, communication and archiving of ultrasound data.