Intermittent pneumatic compression. A comparison of femoral vein velocity with five different devices.

AIM: Different mechanical devices for thromboprophylaxis have different flow characteristics. A new device (Vadoplex) has been developed to provide a short impulse around the calf, a concept derived from the efficacy of foot impulse technology. New devices should be compared with existing devices to establish whether it has a comparable ability to augment venous velocity. Objectives of the study were to compare the venous velocity induced by the Vadoplex with established intermittent pneumatic calf and leg compressors (Covidien and Huntleigh). METHODS: The venous velocity was established in ten healthy volunteers with standardised Duplex ultraonography of the common femoral vein. Measurements were taken at rest and on standing, with each device inactive and active. RESULTS: The Vadoplex induced an increased femoral venous velocity at least as enhanced as established calf and full leg sleeves. CONCLUSION: Calf impulse technology is an alternative to other systems in enhancing femoral vein blood flow, itself a surrogate for assumed thromboprophylactic effect.

Ultrasound findings of masses of the paratesticular space.

Ultrasound is a routine investigation for the assessment of scrotal masses. Many of the detected lesions involve the paratesticular structures. The most common paratesticular masses in clinical practice are epididymal cysts and spermatoceles, but there are a large number of other pathologies that can be encountered and may result in diagnostic uncertainty. This review covers a wide range of the common and the rare, but important, causes of paratesticular masses. The ultrasound findings (both typical and atypical) of these lesions are clarified, and emphasis is given to the features that help to differentiate between them.

Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate: aspirin increases the incidence of minor bleeding complications.

AIM: To assess whether patients taking aspirin were more likely to experience bleeding complications after transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-seven patients taking aspirin who underwent prostate biopsy over a 3.5 year period and 731 patients not taking aspirin over a 2 year period returned a questionnaire assessing the incidence and severity of bleeding complications. RESULTS: Patients taking aspirin had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of haematuria and rectal bleeding, but not of haemospermia. They also had a longer mean duration of bleeding, but no increase in bleeding severity. Severe bleeding was very uncommon in both groups and no patients required intervention for bleeding complications. CONCLUSION: Aspirin exacerbates minor bleeding complications in patients undergoing TRUS guided biopsy of the prostate, but in this large group of aspirin-taking patients no dangerous bleeding complications were encountered. It may be that the risks associated with aspirin cessation outweigh the risks of haemorrhagic complications.

Cortisol clearance and associations with insulin sensitivity, body fat and fatty liver in middle-aged men.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The regulation of cortisol metabolism in vivo is not well understood. We evaluated the relationship between cortisol metabolism and insulin sensitivity, adjusting for total and regional fat content and for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine middle-aged healthy men with a wide range of BMI were recruited. We measured fat content by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liver fat by ultrasound and MRI, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by adrenal response to ACTH(1-24), unconjugated urinary cortisol excretion, corticosteroid-binding globulin, and cortisol clearance by MS. We assessed insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and by OGTT. RESULTS: Cortisol clearance was strongly inversely correlated with insulin sensitivity (M value) (r = -0.61, p = 0.002). Cortisol clearance was increased in people with fatty liver compared with those without (mean+/-SD: 243 +/- 10 vs 158 +/- 36 ml/min; p = 0.014). Multiple regression modelling showed that the relationship between cortisol clearance and insulin sensitivity was independent of body fat. The relationship between fatty liver and insulin sensitivity was significantly influenced by body fat and cortisol clearance. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Cortisol clearance is strongly associated with insulin sensitivity, independently of the amount of body fat. The relationship between fatty liver and insulin sensitivity is mediated in part by both fatness and cortisol clearance.

Non-esterified fatty acid concentrations are independently associated with hepatic steatosis in obese subjects.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We tested the hypothesis that NEFA concentrations are higher in obese subjects with fatty liver than in obese subjects without fatty liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 22 obese (BMI>30 kg/m(2)) men aged 42-64 years, in whom liver fat was assessed by ultrasound and classified into categories of no, mild to moderate and severe fatty liver by two independent radiologists. Regional and visceral abdominal fat were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, and endogenous glucose production, whole-body glucose disposal during an insulin clamp, and NEFA concentrations were measured, along with NEFA suppression (percent (%) suppression and insulin sensitivity index for NEFA during an OGTT). RESULTS: Seven subjects had no evidence of fatty liver, nine had mild or moderate fatty liver and six had severe fatty liver. The amount of visceral fat was not associated with the degree of fatty liver. Whole-body glucose disposal was inversely associated with fatty liver (38.4, 26.5 and 23.9 mumol kg(-1) min(-1) for the groups with no fatty liver, mild to moderate fatty liver and severe fatty liver, respectively, p=0.004). NEFA suppression during the OGTT was decreased (62.5, 50.8 and 41%, p=0.03, for no, mild to moderate, and severe fatty liver, respectively) and the insulin sensitivity index for NEFA was decreased (0.80, 0.40 and 0.34, p<0.0001). Regression modelling suggested that NEFA concentrations were associated with fatty liver independently of whole-body glucose production and disposal measurements. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In obese men, NEFA concentrations during an OGTT are associated with fatty liver independently of classic measures of insulin sensitivity determined by the hyperinsulinaemic clamp. The contribution to this association by factors regulating NEFA concentrations requires further study.

Biopsy of the prostate guided by transrectal ultrasound: relation between warfarin use and incidence of bleeding complications.

AIM: To determine the relation between warfarin use and the frequency of bleeding complications after biopsy of the prostate guided by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). METHODS: Overall, 1022 consecutive patients with suspected prostatic disease were followed after biopsy. Warfarin and aspirin use was determined on the day of the procedure. A TRUS-guided biopsy was performed and patients were offered a questionnaire to complete 10 days after the procedure, to determine any immediate or delayed bleeding complications. Follow-up telephone calls were made to those who had not replied within the stipulated period. RESULTS: Of the 1000 patients who replied, 49 were receiving warfarin, 220 were receiving aspirin and 731 were not receiving any anticoagulant drugs. Of the 49 subjects reporting current use of warfarin, 18 (36.7%) experienced haematuria, compared with 440 (60.2%) of the patients receiving no anti-coagulant drugs who reported haematuria. This was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Of the group receiving warfarin, 4 (8.2%) experienced haematospermia whereas 153 (21%) of the group receiving no anticoagulant medication reported haematospermia. This difference also was statistically significant (p = 0.030). Rectal bleeding was experienced by 7 (14.3%) of the group receiving warfarin compared with 95 (13%) in the group without anticoagulant medication, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.80). We also demonstrated that there was no statistically significant association between the severity of the bleeding complications and medication with warfarin. CONCLUSION: None of the group receiving warfarin experienced clinically important bleeding complications. Our results suggest that the frequency and severity of bleeding complications were no worse in the warfarin group than in the control group and that discontinuing anticoagulation medication before prostate biopsy may be unnecessary.

Ultrasound appearances of testicular epidermoid cysts.

Benign testicular tumours are uncommon but if recognized can enable a conservative approach to surgery to be recommended. This pictorial review demonstrates the variety of sonographic appearances of testicular epidermoid cysts correlating them with pathological findings in 19 lesions, the largest reported imaged series to date. Atchley, J. T. M., Dewbury, K. C. (2000). Clinical Radiology 55, 493-502.

Sonography of palpable breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Because of the increasing use of sonography to rule out cancer in women with palpable breast abnormalities, this study was performed to determine the rate of sonographically occult malignancy in this clinical setting. METHODS: Women who were recommended for biopsy based on mammographic and/or clinical findings underwent breast sonography. This study retrospectively analyzed the subset of patients with palpable malignant lesions. Lesions were classified as visible or occult on mammography and sonography. Patients without a tissue diagnosis of tumor were excluded. RESULTS: Of 1,346 masses that underwent biopsy or aspiration, 616 lesions were palpable, and of these, 293 were malignant. Sonography detected all 293 palpable malignant lesions (95% confidence interval for sensitivity, 99-100%). Eighteen lesions were mammographically occult. The median lesion size as determined by sonography was 1.8 cm; for the lesions that were mammographically occult, the median size was 1.6 cm. The most common histopathologic diagnosis for both groups of lesions was infiltrating ductal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: All palpable malignant breast lesions were visible by sonography in patients in whom a biopsy was recommended. However, we caution that until the false-negative rate of sonography for equivocal palpable abnormalities is determined prospectively, sonography cannot be accurately applied to rule out malignancy in this setting.

The changes seen on high-resolution ultrasound in orchitis.

Orchitis and epididymitis are increasingly common lesions encountered in general practice. The clinical diagnosis of inflammation of the testis can be difficult as 10% of neoplasms present acutely with features of inflammation or torsion. The radiological diagnosis is also difficult as the changes seen on ultrasound, whether diffuse or focal, acute or chronic, have to be differentiated from the changes seen with tumours of the testis. The purpose of this review is to describe and illustrate the evolving changes seen in orchitis with reference to the anatomy and pathophysiology of testicular inflammation. We hope that recognition of this pattern may lead to a more confident diagnosis and appropriate management decisions.

The ultrasound appearances of intratesticular varicocoele.

Extratesticular varicocoele is a common clinical finding, with well recognized sonographic appearances. We report the ultrasound findings in a patient with intratesticular varicocoele (ITV), an extremely rare entity, which was an incidental finding during scrotal sonography. There are differences in both the imaging findings and clinical presentation from previously reported cases. The history of undescended testis and subsequent orchidopexy in our patient contribute to the aetiology of the ITV.

Scrotal ultrasound.

Ultrasound is the most sensitive imaging method available for demonstration of the scrotal contents. The main indications for the use of ultrasound are scrotal masses and pain. Solid intratesticular masses are typically malignant, whereas solid epididymal masses are usually benign.

Case report: multiple highly reflective foci in the renal parenchyma are not specific for pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

A characteristic appearance of highly reflective foci in the renal parenchyma has been reported in patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. We describe a similar patient but in addition have found two patients with a similar appearance on ultrasound who have no other evidence of the condition. The appearance of highly reflective foci in the renal parenchyma is not therefore specific for pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Ultrasound imaging of the appendix testis and appendix epididymis.

The appendix testis and epididymis are well visualized on ultrasound examination. It is important to recognize the normal anatomy of the appendages to exclude them as a cause of pathology and confirm their presence as normal structures. We describe the appearances of the appendices testis and epididymis in fifty-one consecutive patients presenting to the Southampton Radiology Department. The appendix testis was identified on 80% of testes examined by ultrasound and the appendix epididymis on 6% of testes.

Case report: multiple epidermoid cysts of the testes--the ultrasound appearances.

Epidermoid cysts are uncommon tumours of the testes representing approximately 1% of all testicular tumours. Their importance lies in the fact that they are completely benign and can be treated by local excision, thereby saving the patient an orchidectomy. We describe a case in which the patient had multiple epidermoid cysts involving both testes and faced possible bilateral orchidectomy.

Orchiectomy after chemotherapy in patients with metastatic testicular cancer. Is it indicated?

BACKGROUND: A small proportion of patients with testicular germ cell tumors present with widely metastatic disease and are treated initially with chemotherapy. Little is known about the efficacy of systemic chemotherapy in eradicating the primary testicular germ cell cancer; however, there is concern that the testis may act as a sanctuary site for germ cell cancer in these patients, and orchiectomy, is, therefore, recommended after chemotherapy. METHODS: The results from a clinical and pathologic review of 24 patients who underwent delayed orchiectomy after chemotherapy are presented. The testicular pathologic findings are correlated with those in extragonadal masses and also with a blinded review of postchemotherapy testicular ultrasound scans. RESULTS: The most common testicular pathological finding was a dense fibrous scar that was found in all patients. Three patients had persistent testicular germ cell cancer, six had mature teratoma, and one had carcinoma in situ. There was a strong concordance between the major testicular pathologic findings and those in the resected extragonadal masses. All three patients with persistent testicular germ cell cancer subsequently had disease progression in the extragonadal sites. Testicular ultrasound examination did not distinguish accurately between residual tumor or scar in the testis. CONCLUSION: Persistence of the primary testicular germ cell cancer is most likely due to the same heterogeneous response to chemotherapy observed in different metastatic sites. Because current imaging techniques cannot identify accurately those patients with residual testicular germ cell cancer or related testicular abnormalities that may predispose to subsequent relapse, orchiectomy after chemotherapy remains appropriate.