Comparison of conventional, doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of ovarian masses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo assess the value of conventional, Doppler and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) (conventional ultrasonography (US), Doppler US and CEUS) for diagnosing ovarian cancer.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were conducted for studies published until October 2021.Eligibility criteriaStudies assessed the diagnostic value of conventional US, Doppler US or CEUS for detecting ovarian cancer, with no restrictions placed on published language and status.Data extraction and synthesisThe study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent authors. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (PLR and NLR), diagnostic OR (DOR) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were pooled using the bivariate generalised linear mixed model and random effects model.ResultsThe meta-analysis included 72 studies and involved 9296 women who presented with ovarian masses. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUC for conventional US were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87 to 0.94) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82 to 0.91), 6.87 (95% CI: 4.98 to 9.49) and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.07 to 0.15), 57.52 (95% CI: 36.64 to 90.28) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93 to 0.97), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUC for Doppler US were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91 to 0.95) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.89), 6.10 (95% CI: 4.59 to 8.11) and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.11), 61.76 (95% CI: 39.99 to 95.37) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94 to 0.97), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUC for CEUS were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92 to 0.99) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85 to 0.95), 11.47 (95% CI: 6.52 to 20.17) and 0.03 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.09), 152.11 (95% CI: 77.77 to 297.51) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97 to 0.99), respectively. Moreover, the AUC values for conventional US (p=0.002) and Doppler US (p=0.005) were inferior to those of CEUS.ConclusionsConventional US, Doppler US and CEUS have a relatively high differential diagnostic value for differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian masses. The diagnostic performance of CEUS was superior to that of conventional US and Doppler US.

Appendix-preserving elective herniorrhaphy for de Garengeot hernia: two case reports

Background Emergency appendectomy is often performed for de Garengeot hernia. However, in some cases, there may be a chance to perform an appendix-preserving elective surgery. Case description A 76-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complaints of a right inguinal swelling, which we diagnosed as a de Garengeot hernia using computed tomography (CT). B-mode ultrasonography (US) of the mass showed an appendix 4–6 mm in diameter with a clear wall structure; color Doppler US showed pulsatile blood flow signal in the appendiceal wall. Twenty-eight days later, herniorrhaphy with transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) was performed without appendectomy. Another 70-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complaints of a painful bulge in the right inguinal region. The diagnosis of de Garengeot hernia was made using CT. B-mode US showed an appendix 5 mm in diameter with a clear wall structure. Color Doppler US showed a pulsatile blood signal in the appendiceal wall. Seven days later, herniorrhaphy with TAPP was performed without appendectomy. Conclusion De Garengeot hernia is often associated with appendicitis; however, an appendix-preserving elective herniorrhaphy can be performed if US and intraoperative findings do not suggest appendicitis or circulatory compromise in the appendix.

A semiquantitative color Doppler ultrasound scoring system for evaluation of synovitis in joints of patients with blood-induced arthropathy

Background Intra-articular bleeds in patients with inherited bleeding disorders lead to active synovitis which may progress to a chronic state over time. We explored the diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasound in detecting synovitis in boys with bleeding disorders. Results Sixty boys with hemophilia and 3 boys with type 3 von Willebrand disease aged 5 to 18 years (median 12.3 years) were imaged by gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasound (US) in three centers (Beijing, China [n = 22], Guangzhou, China [n = 12] and Toronto, Canada [n = 29])) in this observational study. Images were independently reviewed by two radiologists blinded to clinical data using a subjective semi-quantitative scoring system and objective measurements of synovial thickness and vascularity. Inter-reader reliability for using subjective versus objective color Doppler US methods for assessing synovial vascularity was excellent for the subjective method and moderate/lower range of substantial for the objective method. Agreement between degree of vascularity on color Doppler and extent of synovial hypertrophy on gray-scale US was overall poor for Canada data and moderate for China data. Correlations between degree of vascularity on color Doppler and synovial hypertrophy on gray-scale US, and clinical constructs (total and itemized HJHS scores and total Pettersson X-ray scores) for assessment of blood-induced arthropathy were all poor. Conclusion Color Doppler US is a valuable scoring method for evaluating reactive synovitis in joints of subjects with inherited bleeding disorders and holds potential for assessing post-bleed reactive synovitis once further information on its association with timing of the joint bleed becomes available in the literature.

Does Static Intra Access Pressure Monitoring of Arteriovenous Fistulas Predicts Intra Access Stenosis?

The initiation of hemodialysis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires vascular access formation. The choice of vascular access for individual patient depends on various factors however arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is conventionally considered to be the vascular access of choice. Once hemodialysis is initiated through a mature AVF, there is an ongoing need for surveillance of the AVF to ensure adequate function and prevent vascular access issues among which flow obstruction (both inflow and outflow) remains the most important. AVF stenosis can potentially lead to inadequate dialysis delivery and thrombosis thus leading to access loss. Physical examination and AVF Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) are useful for evaluation of stenosis in the arteriovenous connection and the outflow tract. Periodic assessment of the AVF with Static Intra access Pressure (SIAPR) determination may be a reliable means of predicting vascular access stenosis. Material & Methods A cross sectional study carried out at Department of Nephrology, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore from July 2018 to December 2018. In total 113 patients were included, and all patients underwent SIAPR assessment and Doppler Ultrasound of AVF. Results Mean age of the patients was 56.81±9.38 years, male to female ratio of the patients was 1.8:1. In this study the SIAPR was suggestive of stenosis in 87(76.99%) patients. The sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of SIAPR against Doppler US of the AVF for detection of stenosis was 75.86%, 22.62% & 36.28% respectively Conclusion SIAPR has low specificity and diagnostic accuracy compared to Doppler US for detection of AVF stenosis.