Contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography: improved detection of characteristic flow patterns in focal liver lesions.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intravenous injection of an ultrasound contrast agent aids in the visualization of focal liver lesions on power Doppler images.

Methods: Fifty patients with focal liver lesions were studied by B-mode and power Doppler sonography before and after intravenous injection of the contrast agent Levovist (galactose-based microbubbles; 10 ml of a concentration of 300 mg/ml). Thirty-two patients had malignant liver lesions (19 metastases, 12 hepatocellular carcinomas, 1 cholangiocellular carcinoma), while 18 had benign lesions (12 hemangiomas, 2 focal nodular hyperplasias, 4 others).

Do ultrasonic contrast agents artificially increase maximum Doppler shift? In vivo study of human common carotid arteries.

The aim of this study was to establish whether an increase of maximum Doppler shift occurs in the human common carotid artery after the administration of Levovist, an ultrasonographic echo enhancer. Twenty common carotid arteries of 10 patients were examined. Spectral Doppler waveform examinations were performed before and after administration of Levovist using an Acuson 128 XP 10 and a 7.

[Vascularization patterns in focal liver lesions: comparison of plain and signal-enhanced amplitude-modulated color duplex ultrasonography].

Purpose: Morphology of focal liver lesions was studied by power Doppler. Plain images and images after i.v.

Telemedicine in rural areas. Experience with medical desktop-conferencing via satellite.

Cooperation between physicians in hospitals in rural areas can be assisted by desktop-conferencing using a satellite link. For six weeks, medical desktop-conferencing was tested during daily clinical conferences between the Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, and the Medical Academy, Wroclaw. The communications link was provided by the German Telekom satellite system MCS, which allowed temporary connections to be established on demand by manual dialling.

[Quality criteria of digital subtraction angiography of the trunk of the body].

The presently valid quality criteria of digital subtraction angiography in the body trunk area are described. The indications for intravenous and intraarterial examinations are explained; these are closely connected with the respective demands. The problem levels are analysed and update technical and methodical solutions are offered.