ABSTRACT
Introduction: Percutaneous thermal ablation of inconspicuous lesions can be challenging. Fusion ultrasound (FUS) allows the use of previously performed diagnostic imaging like computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET-CT) to localise hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for treatment. This paper illustrates FUS case studies of pre-, intra- and post-ablation imaging of inconspicuous HCC, supplemented by use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Method: Four prospective cases during September 2014 to October 2018, with HCC amenable to ablation, which were poorly identified on ultrasound, underwent FUS. FUS pre-screening was scheduled within three months of the previous CT or MRI, and between one to four weeks prior to the scheduled ablation date. Post-ablation imaging with FUS was performed between four to six weeks to coincide with their routine follow-up CT or MRI. Findings: There were potential benefits observed in the cases with combined techniques of FUS and CEUS for limiting circumstances such as heat sink effect, multiple lesions targeting, inconspicuous lesion detection and pre-ablation technical feasibility assessment. Discussion: The combined use of FUS and CEUS improves tumour visibility, increases operator imaging confidence and reduces heat sink effect during percutaneous thermal ablation. Conclusion: FUS imaging is helpful in targeting poor conspicuity lesions that cannot be detected on grey-scale ultrasound. It facilitates in ensuring optimal treatment of hepatic lesions for improvement of patient prognosis and follow-up imaging.
ABSTRACT
Physicians and administrators have little hope of responding appropriately to the challenges of the health care market without data to support decision making. Desired Mayo Clinic s Primary Care Practice was to have the ability to access and integrate data from many platforms in many formats from the Enterprise and bring this information to the desktop in a robust interactive display. The solution was delivery of the data to the Web through an interface using Java with access to Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) tools for summarization, graphical display and reporting. Communicating major trends, assisting in planning and management, visually displaying alerts in summary data and individual patients that are all possible through an easy-to-use Web application. To really understand what the summarized data represents, the physicians must be able to drill down, download and explore their own detail data. A pilot project was developed to test the capabilities of the development environment, the acceptance Web tools, the ability to deliver timely information and the methodology of using a multi-dimensional database to define the data. The Family Medicine practice at four separate locations was chosen for the demonstration project. Two practices in Rochester, MN and practices in two smaller towns, totaling 50 physicians and administrative personnel, were the first clients using the system. A cross-functional team examined a variety of development issues such as data sources, data definitions, levels of security, data analysis types, and style of display. Demonstrations of the prototype met with an overwhelming positive response from administrators and department leaders. The Physician Patient Management solution collects, analyzes, and communicates the information needed to meet today s health care challenges.
