Doppler sonography of perifibroid and intrafibroid arteries of uterine leiomyomas

OBJECTIVE: To sonographically evaluate the dominant fibroid nodule vascularity and flow velocity pattern of perifibroid and intrafibroid arteries. METHODS: We recruited 140 women with uterine fibroids. Their uteri were scanned to determine the vascularity of fibroid nodules and the Doppler indices of the fibroid arteries. RESULTS: The median volume of the dominant leiomyoma nodule was 133 cm3 (range=1.5–2,575 cm3). Eighty-three subjects (59.3%) had a dominant leiomyoma nodule volume of ≤200.0 cm3 while the volume of the dominant leiomyoma nodule was >200.0 cm3 in 57 (40.7%) subjects. The dominant fibroid nodule was vascular in 137 (97.9%) subjects and avascular in 3 (2.1%). All the perifibroid artery indices (except the end-diastolic velocity [EDV] and diastolic average ratio [DAR]) are significantly higher than those of the intrafibroid artery. The mean Doppler indices of perifibroid vs. intrafibroid arteries as follows: peak systolic velocity (PSV; 52.1 vs. 45.4 cm/s); EDV (21.1 vs. 22.4 cm/s); time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX; 31.5 vs. 30.4 cm/s); time- averaged mean velocity (Tmean; 14.3 vs. 13.8 cm/s); pulsatility index (PI; 1.1 vs. 0.8); resistive index (RI; 0.6 vs. 0.5); systolic-diastolic ratio (SDR; 2.7 vs. 2.1); impedance index (ImI; 2.7 vs. 2.1); and DAR (0.66 vs. 0.74); P < 0.001 for all indices. CONCLUSION: The predominant pattern of fibroid vascularity is peripheral vascularity and the perifibroid artery indices (except EDV and DAR) are significantly higher than those of the intrafibroid artery. Recurrent fibroids in women with previous myomectomy had significantly higher intrafibroid PI, RI, SDR, and ImI than those without previous myomectomy.

Ultrasonographic quantification of pleural effusion: comparison of four formulae

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlations of ultrasonographically estimated volumes of pleural fluid with the actual effusion volume in order to determine the most reliable formula. METHODS: In 32 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed pleural effusion, an ultrasound estimation was made of the volume of effusion using four different formulae, including two in the erect position and two in the supine position. Closed-tube thoracostomy drainage using a 28-Fr chest tube was performed. The total drainage was calculated after confirmation of full lung re-expansion and complete drainage by plain chest radiographs and ultrasound. The ultrasonographically estimated volume was compared to the actual total volume drained as the gold standard. RESULTS: There were 14 female and 18 male subjects. The mean age of all subjects was 41.56±18.34 years. Fifty percent of the effusions were in the left hemithorax. Metastatic disease accounted for the plurality of effusions (31.2%). The mean total volume drained for all the subjects was 2,770±1,841 mL. The ultrasonographically estimated volumes for the erect 1, erect 2, supine 1, and supine 2 formulae were 1,816±753 mL, 1,520±690 mL, 2,491±1,855 mL, and 1,393±787 mL, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for the estimate of each formula were 0.75, 0.81, 0.62, and 0.63, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although both erect formulae showed similar correlations, the erect 2 formula (Goecke 2) was most closely correlated with the actual volume drained.