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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound

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A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 21208

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Prof. Dr. Rute Santos

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Guest Editor

1. Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department, Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
2. Laboratory for Applied Health Research (LabinSaúde), Rua 5 de Outubro—SM Bispo, Apartado 7006, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: ultrasound imaging; medical imaging diagnostics; aging; musculoskeletal disorders; fascia; obstetrics ultrasound
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Po-Hsiang Tsui

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Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333323, Taiwan
Interests: ultrasound imaging; ultrasound scattering; ultrasound tissue characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There has been significant progress and growth in ultrasound imaging physics and techniques. Ultrasound imaging is a useful method not only for diagnosis, but also for follow up with treatment or rehabilitation; for characterizing tissues in several conditions, namely, in athletes’ performance or pathologic conditions; and for guiding targeted treatment. Ultrasound imaging continues to have a significant impact on clinical diagnosis, intervention, and tissues’ morphological and physiological characterization, helping with investigations in many fields due to the development of new procedures, techniques, and devices. Due to the ongoing search for methods to improve ultrasound diagnosis and the performance of image-guided therapy, we invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of the journal devoted to ultrasound imaging and therapy for medical and clinical research purposes.

Prof. Dr. Rute Santos
Prof. Dr. Po-Hsiang Tsui
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

quantitative ultrasound techniques
ultrasound tissue characterization
ultrasound-guided therapy or intervention
clinical applications of diagnostic ultrasound
ultrasound imaging processing
diagnostic ultrasound devices

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Factors and Interpretation of Inconclusive Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Diagnosis of Solid Pancreatic Lesions

by Renáta Bor, Béla Vasas, Anna Fábián, Mónika Szűcs, Zsófia Bősze, Anita Bálint, Mariann Rutka, Klaudia Farkas, Tibor Tóth, Tamás Resál, Péter Bacsur, Tamás Molnár and Zoltán Szepes

Diagnostics 2023, 13(17), 2841; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13172841 - 1 Sep 2023

Viewed by 904

Abstract

Background: The inconclusive cytological findings of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) remain a major clinical challenge and often lead to treatment delays. Methods: Patients who had undergone EUS-FNA sampling for solid pancreas lesions between 2014 and 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. The “atypical” and “non-diagnostic” categories of the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology System were considered inconclusive and the “negative for malignancy” category of malignancy was suspected clinically. We determined the frequency and predictors of inconclusive cytological finding. Results: A total of 473 first EUS-FNA samples were included, of which 108 cases (22.83%) were inconclusive. Significant increases in the odds of inconclusive cytological findings were observed for lesions with a benign final diagnosis (OR 11.20; 95% CI 6.56–19.54, p < 0.001) as well as with the use of 25 G FNA needles (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.09–4.01, p = 0.023) compared to 22 G needles. Furthermore, the use of a single EUS-FNA technique compared to the combined use of slow-pull and standard suction techniques (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.06–2.70, p = 0.027) and less than three punctures per procedure led to an elevation in the risk of inconclusive cytology (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.49–4.14, p < 0.001). Risk reduction in inconclusive cytology findings was observed in lesions between 2–4 cm (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.23–0.68, p = 0.001) and >4 cm (OR 0.16; 95% CI 0.08–0.31, p < 0.001) compared to lesions ≤2 cm. Conclusions: The more than two punctures per EUS-FNA sampling with larger-diameter needle (19 G or 22 G) using the slow-pull and standard suction techniques in combination may decrease the probability of inconclusive cytological findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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13 pages, 2437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Thermal Effect of Continuous Ultrasound from 3 MHz to 1 and 0.5 W/cm² Applied to Gastrocnemius Muscle

by Arely G. Morales-Hernandez, Violeta Martinez-Aguilar, Teresa M. Chavez-Gonzalez, Julio C. Mendez-Avila, Judith V. Frias-Becerril, Luis A. Morales-Hernandez and Irving A. Cruz-Albarran

Diagnostics 2023, 13(16), 2644; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13162644 - 10 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1180

Abstract

Continuous ultrasound is recognized for its thermal effect and use in the tissue repair process. However, there is controversy about its dosage and efficacy. This study used infrared thermography, a non-invasive technique, to measure the short-term thermal effect of 3 MHz continuous ultrasound vs. a placebo, referencing the intensity applied. It was a single-blind, randomized clinical trial of 60 healthy volunteers (19–24 years old) divided into three equal groups. Group 1:1 W/cm² for 5 min; Group 2: 0.5 W/cm² for 10 min; and Group 3: the placebo for 5 min. The temperature was recorded through five thermographic images per patient: pre- and post-application, 5, 10, and 15 min later. After statistical analysis, a more significant decrease in temperature (

p < 0.05

) was observed in the placebo group compared with the remaining groups after the application of continuous ultrasound. Group 1 was the one that generated the highest significant thermal effect (

p < 0.001

), with an increase of 3.05 °C at 15 min, compared with the other two groups. It is concluded that to generate a thermal effect in the muscle, intensities of ≥1 W/cm² are required, since the dosage maintained a temperature increase for more than 5 min. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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10 pages, 1309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage: Beyond Cholecystitis

by Nicholas J. Koutlas, Swati Pawa, Greg Russell and Rishi Pawa

Diagnostics 2023, 13(11), 1933; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13111933 - 1 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1532

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is an alternative to surgery for acute cholecystitis (AC) in poor operative candidates. However, the role of EUS-GBD in non-cholecystitis (NC) indications has not been well studied. We compared the clinical outcomes of EUS-GBD for AC and NC indications. Consecutive patients undergoing EUS-GBD for all indications at a single center were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-one patients underwent EUS-GBD during the study period. Thirty-nine (76%) patients had AC while 12 (24%) had NC indications. NC indications included malignant biliary obstruction (n = 8), symptomatic cholelithiasis (n = 1), gallstone pancreatitis (n = 1), choledocholithiasis (n = 1), and Mirizzi’s syndrome (n = 1). Technical success was noted in 92% (36/39) for AC and 92% (11/12) for NC (p > 0.99). The clinical success rate was 94% and 100%, respectively (p > 0.99). There were four adverse events in the AC group and 3 in the NC group (p = 0.33). Procedure duration (median 43 vs. 45 min, p = 0.37), post-procedure length of stay (median 3 vs. 3 days, p = 0.97), and total gallbladder-related procedures (median 2 vs. 2, p = 0.59) were similar. EUS-GBD for NC indications is similarly safe and effective as EUS-GBD in AC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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13 pages, 2020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Evaluation of a Multifrequency Ultrafast Doppler Spectral Analysis (MFUDSA) Algorithm for Wall Shear Stress Measurement: A Simulation and In Vitro Study

by Andrew J. Malone, Seán Cournane, Izabela Naydenova, James F. Meaney, Andrew J. Fagan and Jacinta E. Browne

Diagnostics 2023, 13(11), 1872; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13111872 - 27 May 2023

Viewed by 1111

Abstract

Cardiovascular pathology is the leading cause of death and disability in the Western world, and current diagnostic testing usually evaluates the anatomy of the vessel to determine if the vessel contains blockages and plaques. However, there is a growing school of thought that other measures, such as wall shear stress, provide more useful information for earlier diagnosis and prediction of atherosclerotic related disease compared to pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography, or computed tomography angiography. A novel algorithm for quantifying wall shear stress (WSS) in atherosclerotic plaque using diagnostic ultrasound imaging, called Multifrequency ultrafast Doppler spectral analysis (MFUDSA), is presented. The development of this algorithm is presented, in addition to its optimisation using simulation studies and in-vitro experiments with flow phantoms approximating the early stages of cardiovascular disease. The presented algorithm is compared with commonly used WSS assessment methods, such as standard PW Doppler, Ultrafast Doppler, and Parabolic Doppler, as well as plane-wave Doppler. Compared to an equivalent processing architecture with one-dimensional Fourier analysis, the MFUDSA algorithm provided an increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor of 4–8 and an increase in velocity resolution by a factor of 1.10–1.35. The results indicated that MFUDSA outperformed the others, with significant differences detected between the typical WSS values of moderate disease progression (p = 0.003) and severe disease progression (p = 0.001). The algorithm demonstrated an improved performance for the assessment of WSS and has potential to provide an earlier diagnosis of cardiovascular disease than current techniques allow. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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Review

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16 pages, 1799 KiB

Open AccessReview

Personalization of Minimally-Invasive Aesthetic Procedures with the Use of Ultrasound Compared to Alternative Imaging Modalities

by Cristina Beiu, Liliana Gabriela Popa, Beatrice Bălăceanu-Gurău, Carmen Andrada Iliescu, Andreea Racoviță, Marius Nicolae Popescu and Mara Mădălina Mihai

Diagnostics 2023, 13(23), 3512; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13233512 - 23 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1250

Abstract

Ultrasonography is a well-tolerated procedure that aids in the targeted esthetic therapies of special cutaneous regions, as well as in the prevention (vascular mapping, identification of previous filler, and others) and management of potential complications (vascular occlusion, external vascular compression, product misplacement or migration, inflammatory reactions, and others). It has lately been promoted as the first-line imaging tool to address injectables. In this article, we aim to review the evolving role of ultrasonography in cosmetic filler procedures, from the fundamental ultrasound characterization of cosmetic fillers to the ultrasound-enhanced detection and management of cosmetic filler complications, including ultrasound’s role in hyaluronidase-guided injections for cosmetic filler dissolution. Furthermore, the paper explores the integral role played by ultrasound in enhancing the precision, efficacy, and safety of additional minimally invasive aesthetic techniques such as mesotherapy, radiofrequency, cryolipolysis, and polydioxanone procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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11 pages, 4433 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Vascular Access for Percutaneous Coronary and Structural Interventions

by Iosif Xenogiannis, Charalampos Varlamos, Thomas R. Keeble, Andreas S. Kalogeropoulos and Grigoris V. Karamasis

Diagnostics 2023, 13(12), 2028; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13122028 - 11 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2566

Abstract

Radial access has largely substituted femoral access for coronary interventions. Nevertheless, the femoral artery remains indispensable for gaining access to structural and complex percutaneous coronary interventions such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation and chronic total occlusion interventions, respectively. Ultrasound-guided femoral puncture is a broadly available, inexpensive, and relatively easy-to-learn technique. According to the existing evidence, ultrasound guidance for gaining femoral access has improved the effectiveness and safety of the technique. In the present paper, we sought to review the current literature in order to provide the reader with up-to-date data regarding the benefits of ultrasound-guided femoral access compared with the conventional technique as well as describing the state-of-the-art technique for gaining femoral access under ultrasound guidance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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12 pages, 7160 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Bone Biopsy: Feasibility, Diagnostic Yield and Technical Notes

by Federico Ponti, Alessio Arioli, Chiara Longo, Marco Miceli, Marco Colangeli, Nicolas Papalexis and Paolo Spinnato

Diagnostics 2023, 13(10), 1773; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13101773 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1403

Abstract

While nowadays, CT-guided bone biopsy represents the gold standard tool for histopathological and microbiological diagnosis of skeletal lesions, the role of US-guided bone biopsy has not yet been fully explored. US-guided biopsy offers several advantages, such as the absence of ionizing radiation, fast acquisition time, as well as good intra-lesional echo, and structural and vascular characterization. Despite that, a consensus in regard to its applications in bone neoplasms has not been established. Indeed CT-guided technique (or fluoroscopic ones) still represents the standard choice in clinical practice. This review article aims to review the literature data about US-guided bone biopsy, underlying clinical-radiological indications, advantages of the procedure and future perspectives. Bone lesions taking the best advantages of the US-guided biopsy are osteolytic, determining the erosion of the overlying bone cortex and/or with an extraosseous soft-tissue component. Indeed, osteolytic lesions with extra-skeletal soft-tissue involvement represent a clear indication for US-guided biopsy. Moreover, even lytic bone lesions with cortical thinning and/or cortical disruption, especially located in the extremities or pelvis, can be safely sampled with US guidance with very good diagnostic yield. US-guided bone biopsy is proven to be fast, effective and safe. Additionally, it offers real-time needle evaluation, an advantage when compared to CT-guided bone biopsy. In the current clinical settings, it seems relevant to select the exact eligibility criteria for this imaging guidance since the effectiveness can vary depending on the type of lesion and body site involved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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26 pages, 8454 KiB

Open AccessReview

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Airway Evaluation and Management: A Comprehensive Review

by Judy Lin, Ryan Bellinger, Andrew Shedd, Jon Wolfshohl, Jennifer Walker, Jack Healy, Jimmy Taylor, Kevin Chao, Yi-Hsuan Yen, Ching-Fang Tiffany Tzeng and Eric H. Chou

Diagnostics 2023, 13(9), 1541; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13091541 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6657

Abstract

Airway management is a common and critical procedure in acute settings, such as the Emergency Department (ED) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of hospitals. Many of the traditional physical examination methods have limitations in airway assessment. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a promising tool for airway management due to its familiarity, accessibility, safety, and non-invasive nature. It can assist physicians in identifying relevant anatomy of the upper airway with objective measurements of airway parameters, and it can guide airway interventions with dynamic real-time images. To date, ultrasound has been considered highly accurate for assessment of the difficult airway, confirmation of proper endotracheal intubation, prediction of post-extubation laryngeal edema, and preparation for cricothyrotomy by identifying the cricothyroid membrane. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key evidence on the use of ultrasound in airway management. Databases including PubMed and Embase were systematically searched. A search strategy using a combination of the term “ultrasound” combined with several search terms, i.e., “probe”, “anatomy”, “difficult airway”, “endotracheal intubation”, “laryngeal edema”, and “cricothyrotomy” was performed. In conclusion, POCUS is a valuable tool with multiple applications ranging from pre- and post-intubation management. Clinicians should consider using POCUS in conjunction with traditional exam techniques to manage the airway more efficiently in the acute setting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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15 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessReview

Optic Nerve Ultrasound Evaluation in Children: A Review

by Giulia Abbinante, Livio Vitiello, Alessia Coppola, Giulio Salerno, Vincenzo Gagliardi and Alfonso Pellegrino

Diagnostics 2023, 13(3), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13030535 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

Managing patients with neurocritical illness requires monitoring and treating elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), especially in cases in children. In terms of precise and real-time measurements, invasive ICP measurements are presently the gold standard for the initial diagnosis and follow-up ICP assessments. As a rapid and non-invasive way to detect elevated ICP, point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been proposed. The utility of bedside POCUS of ONSD to detect elevated ICP with excellent diagnostic test accuracy in adults has already been demonstrated. Nonetheless, data on the relationship between POCUS of ONSD and ICP in children are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to point out the most recent findings from the pediatric published literature and briefly discuss what was assessed with ONSD ultrasound examination, and also to describe and discuss the diagnostic procedures available for optic nerve ultrasound appraisal. A search of the medical databases PubMed and Scopus was carried out. The terms such as “ocular ultrasonography”, “ICP assessment”, “children”, “point-of-care ultrasound”, and “POCUS” were searched. In conclusion, the use of the standardized A-scan technique coupled with the B-scan technique should be suggested to provide data that are as accurate, precise, repeatable, and objective as possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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Other

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5 pages, 3818 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

A Novel Spectral Index for Tracking Preload Change from a Wireless, Wearable Doppler Ultrasound

by Jon-Emile S. Kenny, Zhen Yang, Geoffrey Clarke, Mai Elfarnawany, Chelsea E. Munding, Andrew M. Eibl, Joseph K. Eibl, Jenna L. Taylor, Chul-Ho Kim and Bruce D. Johnson

Diagnostics 2023, 13(9), 1590; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13091590 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1345

Abstract

A wireless, wearable Doppler ultrasound offers a new paradigm for linking physiology to resuscitation medicine. To this end, the image analysis of simultaneously-acquired venous and arterial Doppler spectrograms attained by wearable ultrasound represents a new source of hemodynamic data. Previous investigators have reported a direct relationship between the central venous pressure (CVP) and the ratio of the internal jugular-to-common carotid artery diameters. Because Doppler power is directly related to the number of red cell scatterers within a vessel, we hypothesized that (1) the ratio of internal jugular-to-carotid artery Doppler power (V/A_POWER) would be a surrogate for the ratio of the vascular areas of these two vessels and (2) the V/A_POWER would track the anticipated CVP change during simulated hemorrhage and resuscitation. To illustrate this proof-of-principle, we compared the change in V/A_POWER obtained via a wireless, wearable Doppler ultrasound to B-mode ultrasound images during a head-down tilt. Additionally, we elucidated the change in the V/A_POWER during simulated hemorrhage and transfusion via lower body negative pressure (LBNP) and release. With these Interesting Images, we show that the Doppler V/A_POWER ratio qualitatively tracks anticipated changes in CVP (e.g., cardiac preload) which is promising for both diagnosis and management of hemodynamic unrest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series—Advances in Ultrasound)

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