The clinical value of high-resolution real-time sonography for the diagnosis of acute and complicated colonic diverticulitis was prospectively studied in 130 consecutive patients with abdominal complaints, because of which the disease entered into differential consideration. The results of ultrasound investigation were compared with those of clinical examination on admission. Regarding history and initial clinical evaluation, diverticulitis was graded as "highly suspected" in 19 (36.5 percent) out of a total of 52 patients with later proven colonic diverticulitis (prevalence 40 percent), as "possible but equivocal" in 24 (46.2 percent), and as "very unlikely" in the remaining nine (17.3 percent) patients. Ultrasonography enabled the diagnosis of diverticulitis with an overall accuracy of 97.7 percent, a sensitivity of 98.1 percent, and a specificity of 97.5 percent. The predictive values of positive and negative ultrasound examinations were 96.2 percent and 98.5 percent, respectively. The echomorphologic features of acute diverticulitis include visualization of a colon segment presenting with local tenderness on gradual compression, which showed hypoechogenic thickening of the wall and a targetlike appearance in transverse view due to inflammatory changes and muscular thickening. Sonographic signs of peridiverticulitis (hyperechoic halo) were found in 96 percent of patients, echogenic diverticula in 86 percent. Twelve (92 percent) of 13 abdominal abscesses were detected on initial ultrasound examination and could be treated by percutaneous drainage in seven cases, while six required surgical intervention. These results indicate that high-resolution sonography with graded compression is highly sensitive and specific for the imaging diagnoses of acute colonic diverticulitis and complicating abscess.
Echomorphologic features of 57 testicular lesions (48 neoplasms, nine benign lesions) were analyzed prospectively by means of high-resolution real-time ultrasonography (US). There was a broad spectrum of texture patterns for testicular malignancies, 92% of which exhibited a predominantly decreased echogenicity compared with that of normal tissue. US findings alone could not be used to make a specific prediction of malignant disease or to classify a neoplasm histologically. However, different kinds of tumors exhibited characteristic echomorphologic features that corresponded to their gross morphologic appearance; a knowledge of these echomorphologic features is extremely useful for the US differentiation of tumors from nonneoplastic scrotal pathologic conditions. All neoplasms in this series displayed distinct abnormalities in parenchymal texture, and all were detected with US. The sensitivity and predictive value of a normal sonogram were as high as 100%. With regard to the detection of retroperitoneal lymph node metastases from testicular tumors, abdominal US had an overall accuracy rate of 96% and was of superior diagnostic value compared with bipedal lymphangiography.
Forty splenic infarcts in 23 patients were examined with ultrasound (US). At clinical presentation, splenic infarction was associated with severe left upper quadrant pain (n = 10) or diffuse abdominal pain (n = 4) or was asymptomatic (n = 9). In this retrospective study, predominantly wedge-shaped (n = 17) or round (n = 23), irregularly delineated (n = 33) or smooth (n = 7), hypoechoic (n = 40) and anechoic (n = 5) lesions were found at first examination. During follow-up observation, four patients died because of complications unrelated to infarct, and five patients underwent splenectomy as a consequence of US findings. Expanding intralienal liquefaction, increasing subcapsular hemorrhage, free peritoneal blood (even in spleens shown to have an intact surface at sonography), and flow phenomena in the area of infarction demonstrated at B-mode pulsed Doppler US were identified as infarct-related complications associated with the risk of splenic rupture. Despite the high self-healing tendency in splenic infarction, short-term follow-up with US is recommended for early recognition of these possible complications.
The clinical value of high-resolution real-time sonography for the diagnosis of acute and complicated appendicitis was prospectively investigated in 857 patients admitted with suspected appendicitis. The ultrasound findings were correlated with history and physical examination on admission. Sonography was able to make the diagnosis of appendicitis with a sensitivity of 89.7%, a specificity of 98.2%, an overall accuracy of 96.3%, and a positive and negative predictive value of 93.6% and 97%, respectively. Routine use of ultrasound before making therapeutic decisions has reduced the rate of unnecessary laparotomies from 20.3% to 11.3%. In 48 (24.7%) of 194 patients with proven appendicitis, the disease had progressed to perforation at laparotomy. History and clinical findings on admission classified 30 (62.5%) of these patients as "highly suspect;" however, 9 (18.8%) were classified as "equivocal" and 9 (18.8%) as "very unlikely." Only half (48%) of the patients with appendiceal rupture had white blood cell counts higher than 13,000/mm3 or fever above 38 degrees C (50%). Sonography enabled the visualization of the inflamed appendix and/or appendicular abscess in 44 (91.7%) patients with perforation. In 47 of 48 patients with appendiceal rupture, the ultrasound-aided diagnosis was made on hospital admission. Thus, the incidence of complicated appendicitis (24.7%) in our study population must be attributed to disease progression before admission and preclinical diagnostic delay.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.