Can live bi-plane sonography reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the wrist?

Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a recognized problem affecting up to 81% of sonographers. Live bi-plane imaging is a new technology derived from matrix transducers, which allows the operator to scan in more than one plane simultaneously and can reduce the off-axis movement of the scanning arm when assessing abdominal organs. This study was performed to assess if using a bi-planar technique would reduce stressful movements of the wrist.

Rapid assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms by 3-dimensional ultrasonography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the application and accuracy of 3-dimensional (3D) volume acquisition ultrasonography in the measurement of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients undergoing surveillance ultrasonographic examinations of known AAAs were scanned according to a conventional protocol, after which 3D volume data sets were acquired with a commercially available mechanical transducer. Maximum aortic diameters were measured with multiplanar reconstructions from the 3D volume data, and these were compared with those from the conventional technique.

Testicular sonography: Is an echogenic ring a sign of a benign lesion?

The differentiation of benign from malignant testicular lesions is important to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention but is often difficult, particularly in the case of focal hypoechoic lesions. We present the description of 3 cases of an echogenic ring that appeared around a hypoechoic testicular mass on sonograms. The ring proved to be a fibrous capsule around a benign lesion.

Appraising surgeons learning sonography: measuring measurement variability.

Purpose: Sonography is increasingly used by various clinicians in several task-specific situations. We present a method of assessing 1 aspect of a nonspecialist's ability in performing sonography, measurement variability.

Methods: An experienced radiologist and a surgeon who had received 4 weeks of sonography training each made triplicate measurements of gallbladder dimensions in 19 adult patients undergoing abdominal sonography.

The role of strain gauge plethysmography in the assessment of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis.

Suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common reason for medical referral to hospital. Clinical signs and symptoms are notoriously unreliable, hence there is the need for objective testing. Strain gauge plethysmography (SGP) has been marketed as a technique for excluding lower limb DVT.