TSI ultrasound elastography for the diagnosis of chronic allograft nephropathy in kidney transplanted patients.

Purpose: To answer the question whether the TSI (tissue strain imaging) sonoelastography technique can contribute to the diagnosis of chronic renal allograft damage.

Material And Methods: A prospective study of 112 patients between June 2010 and April 2011 was conducted to compare elastography data with biopsy results and laboratory parameters in order to determine whether any correlations exist. Elastography parameters were acquired with a high-end ultrasound system and analyzed using the semiquantitative strain ratio.

The use of contrast-enhanced US in renal transplant: first results and potential clinical benefit.

Introduction And Purpose: Little use has been made so far of the intrinsic advantages of ultrasound (US) for quantifying tissue perfusion of parenchymal organs, that is, its high spatial and temporal resolution and immediate availability in any clinical situation. Since acute rejection of a kidney graft primarily involves the sub-capsular capillaries, early and detailed evaluation of blood flow in this area is highly desirable. Using a clinically established US contrast medium (USCM) of the second generation and improved US technology, we performed a study to investigate whether it is possible to adequately diagnose rejection after kidney transplant by evaluating the arterial inflow of an echo enhancer.

[Image quality and characterisation of sonographically detected breast lesions: comparison of tissue harmonic imaging alone and in combination with frequency compounding].

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of frequency compounding (FC) in detection and characterisation of breast lesions by ultrasound (US) and to assess the image quality in direct comparison with tissue harmonic imaging (THI).

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 breast lesions were examined; these were malignant in 39 cases and benign in 21 as confirmed by histology of core biopsy specimens (Aplio 80, Toshiba, Otawara, Japan). A total of 120 freeze frames, 60 B-mode scans with THI and 60 scans with FC were assessed by three independent examiners, who determined the presence of pathology on a scale of 1 to 5 using established criteria (BI-RADS classification).

Arrival time parametric imaging: a new ultrasound technique for quantifying perfusion of kidney grafts.

Purpose: Evaluation of a new standardised ultrasound (US) technique for diagnosis of acute rejection of kidney grafts.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two kidney recipients underwent US examination following administration of 1.6 ml US contrast medium (USCM, SonoVue) 6 days after kidney transplantation.