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Utility of Vascular Enhancement Technique (ClarifyTM) in Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Abdominal Vessels |
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Jong Young Oh, M.D. Jin Han Cho, M.D., Jong Cheol Choi, M.D., Tae Beom Shin, M.D., Jin Hwa Lee, M.D., Seong Kuk Yoon, M.D., Kyung Jin Nam, M.D. |
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Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University |
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PURPOSE : Vascular enhancement (VE) technology(ClarifyTM) is a new technique in vascular, B-mode imaging.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of VE technology in ultrasonographic diagnosis of abdominal
vasculature.
MATERIALS and METHODS : Seventy-one adult patients (39 men and 32 women; age range, 25-89 years; mean age,
56 years) who had undergone abdominal ultrasonography were included in this study. The imaging was performed
with a 1.8-4.0 MHz convex array transducer (SONOLINE, Antares, Siemens Medical Solutions, WA)
by an abdominal radiologist. The radiologist obtained images of the same vascular area with each of conventional
ultrasonography imaging (CUS), tissue harmonic imaging (THI), CUS plus VE technique and THI plus
VE technique. Images were divided into normal (56) and abnormal (15) groups. The vessel visibility, conspicuity
of the vascular wall and contrast resolution with adjacent structures were evaluated in the normal group, and
the lesion conspicuity and border sharpness were evaluated in the abnormal group. On the PACS monitor, the
images were graded into four grades by two radiologists in consensus. Statistical analysis was performed using
Wilcoxon signed rank test.
RESULTS : In the normal group, all parameters of the ultrasonographic imaging which applied the VE technique
were superior to those of the imaging without VE technique (p < 0.05). In the abnormal group, combined use of
VE technique with CUS or THI provided better results than CUS or THI alone in terms of lesion conspicuity
and border sharpness (p < 0.05). THI combined with VE technique provided the best image quality among the 4
ultrasonographic methods examined in this study for the evaluation of both normal and abnormal abdominal
vessels (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION : VE technology was a helpful technique to evaluate the abdominal vasculature. Furthermore, VE
technique combined with THI provided better image quality than other ultrasonographic methods in the evaluation
of abdominal vessels. |
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Keyword : Arteries, US Veins, US Ultrasound(US), technology Ultrasound(US), comparative studies |
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pdf파일 : 093-100오종영.pdf
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