Abstract
Fenech M, Ajjikuttira A and Edwards H. Australas J Ultrasound Med 2024. DOI: 10.1002/ajum.12384.
A common request for musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound in many departments, with patients arriving from accident and emergency. This is a useful review article with both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging images for comparison, alongside clear anatomical diagrams. An essential read for those training in MSK ultrasound and those who perform Achilles tendon ultrasound examinations.
Sundararajan S, Rou S and Polanski LT. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024: 203(5): 512–531.e3.
A meta-analysis of 11 studies showed that an endometrial echogenic mass had the highest sensitivity 0.915 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.844–0.955) and specificity 0.843 (95% CI = 0.615–0.947) for retained products of conception (RPOC) in comparison to endometrial lining thickness and colour Doppler flow.
Ciekalski M, Rosó II, Filipek M, et al. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 2024. DOI: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2024.02.006.
All the 90 participants in this research were doctors, the highest number were radiologists (22%) and internal medicine doctors (22%). Only 10% of those surveyed had received specific ergonomic teaching in relation to their area of ultrasound practice. Neck and shoulder were the most common sites of pain for 65.6% of the participants who experienced pain when scanning, with 91.7% of the doctors who performed obstetric scans experiencing pain. Ultrasound-based ergonomic training is recommended as part of the training.
Thebridge L, Fisher C, Puttaswamy V, et al. J Med Radiat Sci 2024. DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.786.
Intra-operative ultrasound is becoming more common for many areas of practice. This team explains the rationale behind the use of intra-operative ultrasound during renal transplantation and their protocol. A scan of the kidney is performed three times, once after the vessels have been attached, to check flow and again after the transplant ureter has been attached, and then finally after closure, to ensure that there is no pressure from the abdominal wall effecting perfusion.
Karim J, Di Mascio D, Roberts N et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024. DOI: 10.1002/uog.27649.
The researchers looked at the detection rates for 16 abnormalities at the 11- to 14-week scan. They found that a standardised protocol was useful, and there was a low false-positive rate. More recent studies included in the meta-analysis showed increased sensitivity compared to older papers, which demonstrates that ultrasound machines have improved. They conclude that it is possible to detect some specific abnormalities (but not all) earlier than the second trimester anomaly scan.
Fourie H, Al Memar M, Tuomey M et al. Australas J Ultrasound Med 2024. DOI: 10.1002/ajum.12377.
A case study of a patient presenting for an early pregnancy scan due to bleeding, the right iliac fossa (RIF) mass was initially thought to be a dermoid cyst. At a rescan 2 weeks later to check viability, the diagnosis of a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) was made, due to the ultrasound appearances of concentric echogenic lines, the ‘onion skin’ sign. A magnetic resonance imaging was performed and confirmed the diagnosis. Post-delivery, the adnexal mass was removed with histological confirmation. Clear ultrasound images demonstrating the pathology.
Sterling RK, Duarte-Rojo A, Patel K, et al. Hepatology 2024. DOI:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000843.
Chronic liver disease is affecting more patients, and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) have assessed the latest research to make new guidelines. This paper is difficult to read due to the large number of acronyms used throughout the publication. But this paper describes the imaging-based liver assessments clearly and has recommendations for practice, in both adult and paediatric cases.
Condous G, Gerges B, Thomassin-Naggara I, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024. DOI:10.1002/uog.27560.
Trans-vaginal ultrasound for patients with symptomatic endometriosis is the first-line imaging; ultrasound practitioners need to be trained and experienced to recognise deep endometriosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is also needed to help with surgical planning. Accuracy for the various endometriosis classification systems is discussed.
Kraus B, Harrison G, Santos R, et al. Radiography 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2024.01.024.
There is limited information on the training of sonographers in Europe; this research helps to demonstrate some of the pathways taken by radiographers to obtain their ultrasound skills. The main differences between the United Kingdom and European courses are the length of time taken for training (longer in the United Kingdom), although most courses are postgraduate. Limited data are available, and some countries do not offer ultrasound training to radiographers at all. There is no standard to adhere to for ultrasound training in Europe, whereas in the United Kingdom, ultrasound courses are most likely to be CASE (Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education) accredited.
López Soto Á, Velasco Martínez M, Ferrández Martínez M, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024. DOI: 10.1002/uog.27507.
The team offer a qualitative and quantitative explanation of how to diagnose atypical genitalia, and they suggest completing this assessment at the anomaly scan. Currently, there has been no validation of these explanations from research. Ultrasound images provided within this article are good, with schematic diagrams to demonstrate the differences between typical genitalia (male and female) and atypical genitalia. Further research is needed, and opinions from parents are needed to inform the research. Communication skills training would need to be given to help the sonographers counsel the patients receiving this diagnosis.