Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

A study was done on prevalence, use patterns, and behaviors associated with chemical substance use among diagnostic medical sonographers, radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists registered in Georgia. In this article, the researchers emphasize the sonography data, and how they compare with the collective nonsonography radiologic science group data and to U.S. southern region and national population data. Results showed that sonographers had the highest past year nonmedical use rates compared with all other groups for alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, and cocaine, although none were statistically significant. Sonographers reported lowest past year use compared with all other groups for smoking tobacco, which was statistically significant, as well as for smokeless tobacco, which was not statistically significant. Sonographers also indicated no nonmedical use of sedatives, inhalants, hallucinogens, crack, or heroin during the previous 12 months. Recommendations include the need for further study to draw a more accurate picture of sonographers' substance use effects on work performance, the need for increased drug education, and increased attention to customized employee assistance programs.

Interstitial or cornual pregnancy is an uncommon form of ectopic pregnancy that can be difficult to diagnose both clinically and sonographically. Although infrequent, interstitial ectopic pregnancy carries a greater mortality risk than common forms of tubal ectopic pregnancy. The authors present a case of an interstitial ectopic pregnancy diagnosed sonographically, and they review the associated literature.

Fetal pleural effusions have a variable course in pregnancy. An unusual case of dynamic variation in the extent of fetal hydrothorax is presented.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation is a rare pulmonary lesion that can be diagnosed prenatally by ultrasonography. This hamartomatous pulmonary mass is typically unilateral and usually involves one lobe or segment of the lung. Hamartomas are rare tumors of variable physical appearance, whose sonographic appearance is usually that of a predominantly cystic or solid mass. Typically slow growing, it is not uncommon for focal calcifications to develop. On rare occasion, hamartomas may be bilateral or involve the entire lung. Pulmonary sequestrations probably represent bronchopulmonary foregut abnormalities. Extralobar lesions are the least common overall, but are the most common form found in neonates and nearly the only form that has been detected prenatally. Sequestrations occur most commonly on the left (90%) in the posterior and basal segments. Subdiaphragmatic lesions (which account for 2.5% of bronchopulmonary foregut malformations) have been observed prenatally associated with other anomalies, including foregut abnormalities and congenital diaphragmatic hernia in 58% of cases. This form of sequestration has rarely been diagnosed prenatally. The following case report illustrates cystic adenomatoid malformation in extralobar pulmonary sequestration.

Two cases of histologically proven giant retroperitoneal lipomas are presented. Both were evaluated by computed tomography and sonography. Although the computed tomography findings of both lesions were similar, they exhibited different echographic patterns sonographically. In this article, the authors discuss the various ultrasonographic characteristics of body fat, and they present possible explanations.

Epignatic teratoma with intracerebral extension is a very rare entity, and the prognosis is always grim, with death occurring within the first month of life. Generally, the pregnancy is complicated by a rapid onset of polyhydramnions, which prompts prenatal ultrasound examination. The size of the teratoma interferes with normal fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid, which causes the onset of polyhydramnios. Prenatal ultrasound helps with the assessment of oropharangeal involvement, which can optimize care plans in the postnatal period.