Objectives

AC quality criteria are less easily recognized and obtained than those for head measurements; training, adherence to protocols and audit are important. Differences between ellipse and traced AC may not justify the use of separate charts; the number of non-elliptical sections suggests that ellipse fitting is not appropriate. Comparison between EFW errors is not a suitable tool for audit. Failure to meet quality criteria results in clinically significant errors.

Abstract:Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and compound imaging have been reported clinically to improve contrast resolution, tissue differentiation and overall image quality.However, there have been limited studies to date to quantify objectively the improvements in image quality achieved with these new imaging techniques. The aim of this study was to quantify differences in image quality which exist between conventional Bmode imaging, harmonic imaging, compound imaging and harmonic compound imaging. An ATL HDI 5000 scanner with three probes (C52, L74 and L125) was tested with two different types of test object, the GammexRMI model 404 GS LE and the GammexRMI 403 GS LE. The measurement limitations associated with subjective analysis methods were not present in this study, since an automated image analysis program was used to determine the image quality parameters therefore, subtle differences between the four imaging modes could be detected. Significant improvements in lateral resolution and slice thickness as a function of depth were found with THI. Contrast resolution and anechoic target detection improved with compound imaging, while harmonic compound imaging improved lateral resolution, slice thickness as a function of depth and contrast resolution. (Email: Jacinta.browne@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk) 2

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The Technical Quality Assurance group was initiated by the EFSUMB Board in 2007 and met firstly in 2008 to discuss and evaluate methods and procedures published for performing technical quality assurance for diagnostic ultrasound devices. It is the aim of this group of experts to advise the EFSUMB Board of effective and efficacious methods for routine use and to make recommendations regarding the technical aspects of EFSUMB by-law 9, parts 11.6. & 11.7. The group's work focused on new developments and related European projects to establish a common guideline. There is a great need of a well established protocol and dedicated processing software for the performance testing of medical ultrasound equipment. The measurements should be user independent as much as physically possible. Only if these goals are achieved in an international (firstly European) context, the optimal quality of ultrasound imaging can be offered and maintained to the medical community. This guideline aims to offer and summarize suitable procedures and evaluation processes to lend support for an optimal Technical Quality Assurance (TQA) scheme. The content of this guideline was presented to the EFSUMB Board of Directors (delegates) and approved by the EFSUMB Executive Board (ExB) at the regular meeting during EUROSON 2012 in Madrid April 2012.

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Many methods for fetal weight estimation have been proposed. Earlier formulae were derived solely by regression analysis but more recently formulae based on physical models have been developed. Some of these formulae are lengthy and difficult to use. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate a concise area based formula developed several years ago against popular and recently published formulae. Data from 388 patients over a 5 year period were collected from clinically required ultrasound scans performed within 10 days of delivery. Four of the seven formulae evaluated proved to be equally accurate over a broad range of birthweights (mean absolute deviations 245-249 g), including the area based formula and a circumference based formula derived from it. On the grounds of the number of terms, the precision of coefficients, the physical meaning and the greater accuracy of individual area measurements compared with those derived from circumference, the area based formula should be the method of choice.

A fatal case of leptospirosis in a 64 year old farm worker is described. The dramatic neurological presentation with a rapidly evolving flaccid paraplegia associated with biochemical evidence of renal and hepatic dysfunction is discussed. Attention is drawn to the wide range of neurological symptoms reported in leptospirosis, and to the possibility that this infectious disease may present neurologically.