Abstract
Here’s a comprehensive article on the management of multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK), one of the most commonly detected prenatal abnormalities. It discusses prevalence, progression and the role of imaging studies.
This Italian collaboration discusses the reasons why renal transplant patients are at greater risk of developing subsequent renal malignancy, usually in the native kidney, and puts forward a management strategy, which includes annual or biennial ultrasound surveillance.
This is an interesting study that highlights the importance of good report writing. The authors found that, of 200 consecutive imaging reports on their system, conclusions were offered in only 45% of cases, and these were more likely to be CT or mammography/breast ultrasound examinations and less likely to be found in plain film reports. Comparison to previous imaging results was not made very often either.
In a population of 18 patients with histologically proven superficial desmoids, this team found that most superficial desmoid tumours had specific stellar patterns and irregular ‘sun-burst-like’ extensions on MRI and high-resolution ultrasound. In addition, all tumours showed collagen components. The authors suggest that these features may be reliable for non-invasive diagnosis of desmoids.
In a word no; one third of women of child-bearing age in the US are obese, and of those, 25% are morbidly obese. This team from Detroit and Houston compared fetal heart visualisation in women with a normal BMI with morbidly obese women (BMIs of 40 or above). Various subcategories were investigated but still optimal visibility was obtained in less than 50% of obese women compared with almost 90% in those with a BMI of less than 25.
Shetland ponies are getting fatter too, especially those kept as pets. This study investigated 18 obese ponies and put them on three different weight reduction strategies. The authors used ultrasound to measure the depth of fat at key points on the body and found that those on the most severe restriction lost the greatest amount. Tough love.
Nearly 700 diagnostic and interventional procedures were performed at the purpose-built polyclinic during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and of those, 38% were MRI and 22% were ultrasound. The authors from Durham conclude that imaging services played a vital role within the medical facilities at the Games. Detailed pre-event planning and provision of back-up services are key.
An interesting study from New Zealand suggested that the imminent introduction of a pilot abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programme for Maori may prove cost effective since the prevalence of AAA at the researchers’ site may be as high as 3% in those over 55 years of age. However, at only 103 Maori patients, the sample size was small.
This large multicentre study investigated ultrasound ablation under conscious sedation for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Treatment was administered by 42 doctors, and patients were followed up for six months. Over 95% had successful ablation and only 2% experienced a major complication. No women died and none sustained permanent injury. The authors conclude ultrasound ablation is an effective and safe treatment for fibroids and adenomyosis.
This prospective research involved performing ultrasonic fetal head circumference measurements in a cohort of 200 primagravid women at the onset of term labour or just prior to induction. Prenatal measurements correlated well with postnatal figures. Fetuses with heads larger than 350 mm were more likely to require intervention.
Here’s another study where results indicate that ultrasound, when enhanced with microbubbles, is almost as sensitive as CT for diagnosing and monitoring specific paediatric problems. This time it is investigating minor blunt abdominal trauma in 67 haemodynamically stable children.
It’s not just mums-to-be who want to know the sex of their unborn child. This team from Brazil investigated accuracy of fetal sex determination using ultrasound in 18 pregnant bitches. When only one or two canine fetuses were present at 55–58 days’ gestation, accuracy was very high. However, this dropped to around 67% for litters of higher orders.