1.0 cm in diameter.

Objective To analyze the double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCUS) features of periamupullary carcinoma for enhancing the ultrasound diagnostic value of the disease.Methods The DCUS and clinical data of 40 patients with periampullary carcinoma confirmed by histopathology were reviewed.Results (1) The displaying rate of the lesions and the judgment of lesion location was statistically higher on DCUS than that of ordinary ultrasound (P ＜ 0.05).(2) DCUS features of periampullary carcinoma:the size of most lesions was less than 30 mm except for 1 case in which no lesion was found; In 100％ (39/39) of the lesions,the morphology did not change with duodenum movement ; In 64.1％ (25/39) of lesions hyperenhancement or isoenhancement was displayed in the arterial phase,with low enhancement in the venous phase; In 87.2％ (34/39) of lesions homogeneous enhancement was displayed; In 95％ (38/40) the bile ducts were moderately or severely dilated.The lesion locations and whether the lesions projected into the duodenal cavity or not were statistically different between the three different types of periampullary carcinoma (P ＜ 0.05).The lesions projected into the duodenal cavity of duodenum were more commonly seen in papillary carcinoma and ampullary carcinoma than distal common bile duct carcinoma.The lesion size,whether the lesion morphology changed or not with duodenum movement,enhancement level,enhancement homogeneity,the degree of bile duct dilatation,whether there was pancreatic duct dilatation or not were not statistically different between the three different types of periampullay carcinoma (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions DCUS is an effective way to show periampullay carcinoma,and is helpful to diagnose periampullary carcinoma and distinguish the three different types of periampullary carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of artificial hydrothorax combined with one-lung ventilation to aid ablation treatment of liver carcinoma in the hepatic dome.Methods Twenty-one patients with liver carcinoma located in the hepatic dome and affected by the lung gas were enrolled.Double lumen endobronchial intubation anesthesia was used and thoracical tube was used to apply artificial pleural effusion.The lesions'ultrasound image were recorded for the patients without artificial hydrothorax,or with artificial hydrothorax only and artificial hydrothorax combined with one-lung ventilation.Ultrasound images were reviewed and scored as 1-5 according to the clarity and completeness of the lesion.Ablation efficacy and adverse reactions were recorded in the follow-up.Results Twenty-one patients were successfully applied artificial hydrothorax and one lung ventilation.The average normal saline used for artificial hydrothorax were (738± 260)ml.The ultrasound score for not using artificial hydrothorax,using artificial hydrothorax only and artificial hydrothorax combined with one lung ventilation were 1.13 ± 0.35 (1-2),3.00 ± 0.85 (2-5) and 4.53 ± 0.64(3-5),respectively,statistical difference was found between each method(P ＜0.05).Artificial hydrothorax combined with one-lung ventilation had much higher ultrasound score than the other 2 methods.No complication related to artificial hydrothorax or one-lung ventilation was found.CT/MRI at one month after ablation showed that all the lesions were completely ablated.In the follow-up for 2-14 months on average,1 case of local tumor progression and 1 case of intrahapetic relapse were found.Conclusions Artificial hydrothorax combine one-lung ventilation could effectively enhance ultrasound image for the lesions in the dome whose acoustic window was affected by lung gas.

Objective To analyze the reasons of focal liver lesions that difficult to detect by conventional ultrasound ultrasound-CT/MR fusion imaging.Methods 101 lesions which were confirmed by pathology or clinical diagnosis standards were recruited in the research.All of them were difficult to detect by conventional ultrasound but CT/MR display clearly.Ultrasound-CT/MR fusion imaging was used to observe the size,location and internal echo of the lesions,as well as the background of the surrounding liver parenchyma.Results All cases were successfully registrated,the registration time were 2-6min [(4.1 ±0.6)min].For these 101 lesions,93.1％(94/101) of which the diameter ≤20 mm,56.4％ (57/101) were located in hepatic segments near the diaphragm (such as S2,S4,S7,S8),78.2％ (79/101) were internal isoecho,and 79.2％(80/101) in the background of liver cirrhosis.Conclusions The important reasons that focal liver lesions detected difficult by conventional ultrasound includes:lesion size,location,internal echo and the hepatic background.

Objective To assess the characterization and usefulness of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)to diagnose solid focal lesions of pancreas(s-FLPs)in comparison to contrast enhanced computed tomography(CECT).Methods Forty-nine s-FLPs with final diagnosis were studied with low mechanical index CEUS and CECT.The enhanced patterns and diagnostic capability of CEUS were analyzed,and these results were compared with those from CECT.Results ①In CEUS,the perfusion of capillary could be detected in vascular phase.②The concordance of dual-phases enhanced patterns between CEUS and CECT was 73.5%(36/49).The concordance of enhanced level between early parenchymatous perfusion phase in CEUS and pancreatic phase in CECT could achieve 87.8%(43/49).Hypo/hypo enhancement was the most common enhanced pattern of pancreatic carcinoma in CEUS and CECT.③There was no statistical significance between CEUS and CECT in the differential diagnostic.Conclusions The concordance of enhanted patterns between CEUS and CECT is satisfactory.CEUS is similar to CECT in the differential diagnosis of s-FLPs.CEUS would become an important non-invasive diagnostic method for s-FLPs.

Objective To evaluate the value of virtual navigation assisted 3-D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (VNA-3D-CEUS) in depicting ablative area and ablative margin after hepatocellular carcinoma radiofrequency ablation. Methods Sixty-one lesions in 51 patients were evaluated ablative area and ablative margin using VNA-3D-CEUS. The results were divided into three groups: (A) tumor was completely ablated and 5 mm ablative margin was achieved; (B) tumor was completely ablated but 5 mm ablative margin was not achieved; (C) tumor was not completely ablated. The technical successful rate of VNA-3D-CEUS,as well as the coincidence rate of complete ablation with contrast-enhanced MRI,was evaluated. The relation between local tumor progression and ablative margin was observed through follow-up. Results The technical successful rate of VNA-3D-CEUS was 78.7％ (48/61). Coincidence rate of complete ablation with contrast-enhanced MRI was 100％ (40/40). The local tumor progressions of group A and group B were 0/26 and 2/13. There was significant difference between A and B group( P =0.032). Significant correlation between local tumor progression and ablative margin was found ( r =- 1. 000, P ＜0. 001 ). Conclusions VNA-3D-CEUS could be a new method in accurately evaluating the ablative area and ablative margin after hepatocellular carcinoma ablation.

Objective To formed ranoscale ultrasound contrast agents loading PFOB by selfassembly of amphiphilic block copolymer for ultrasonic imaging in vivo and in vitro.Methods The biodegradable copolymer-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (D, L-lactic acid) (PEG-PDLLA) self-assembled to form PFOB-loaded nanomicelle and nanovesicle with different PFOB concentration by solvent volatilization.The configuration and particle-sizing of resulting nanoparticles was determined,and their ultrasonic imaging in vitro and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography on subcutaneous tissue by focal injection in vivo were observed.Results In transmission electron microscope images, these micelles and vesicles appeared uniformly spherical with smooth surface.All the size distributions were narrow and mean diameters were from 404.3 to 475.8 nm using laser particle-sizing analyzer.In vitro and in vivo experiment showed that,the higher PFOB concentration, the more remarkable effect of ultrasound imaging.Especially, nanovesilces'ultrasonography effect was much better than nanomicelles' under same conditions.Conclusions PFOB-loaded nano-micelles and nano-vesicles prepared by solvent volatilization and self-assembly of PEG-PDLLA can obviously enhance ultrasound contrast and nanovesicle behaves better than nano-micelle.

ObjectiveTo verify the feasibility and the accuracy for the biopsy of targets not visible on sonography but shown on CT in a phantom by using real-time virtual navigation system(RVS).Methods The tissue mimicking phantom,made of gel,contained 30 red spheres which were 10 mm in diameter,randomly placed.These spheres were invisible on sonography,but visible on CT.A junior operator and a senior operator performed the biopsy respectively,and each sphere was biopsied once guide by both RVS and conventional ultrasound for each operator.The red dye in thebiopsied sample meant successful performance.The success rate of biopsy and the length of the red dyed sample were recorded.Results There was no statistically difference between the performance results of the two operators.The success rate and the median length of red dyed sample biopsy of RVS were respectively 96.7％ (58/60) and 7.5 mm (rang,6-9 mm) which were statistically higher and longer than that of conventional ultrasound,43.3％(26/60) and 0 mm(rang,0 - 5 mm) ( P ＜0.05).ConclusionsBiopsy guided by RVS for the target invisible to ultrasound is a feasible and accuracy method,which will be a new guided method for interventional ultrasound.

Objective To investigate the role of intra-operative and percutaneous three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasonic cholangiography (3D-CEUSC) in the diagnosis of biliary anomalies. Methods Diluted SonoVue, an ultrasonic contrast agent, was injected into the cystic duct of 13 living liver donors via a cannula for intra-operative 3D-CEUSC, while injection via a T tube or a PTCD tube were done in 14 patients for percutaneous 3D-CEUSC. The maximum branching order of the intra-hepatic bile ducts, the percentages of display of the first-, second-, and third-order intra-hepatic bile ducts, and the rates of detection of biliary anatomical anomalies were evaluated. Results The median of the maximum branching order of the intra-hepatic bile ducts shown was fourth-order on intraoperative 3D-CEUSC and third-order on percutaneous 3D-CEUSC, respectively. The difference was significant (P=0.01). From the first- to the third-order of intra-hepatic bile ducts, the percentages of display for intra-operative 3D-CEUSC were 100% (23/23), 96.2% (50/52) and 82.7% (86/104),respectively, while they were 100% (24/24), 94.6% (54/56) and 60. 7% (68/112) for percutaneous 3D-CEUSC. The differences were not significant when comparing the first- and the second-order branches of intra-hepatic bile ducts as shown either on intra-operative or percutaneous 3D-CEUSC (P=1).The percentages of display of the third-order branches using intra-operative 3D-CEUSC was higher than that of percutaneous 3D-CEUSC (P＜0. 0001). Three biliary anatomical anomalies were detected by intra-operative 3D-CEUSC and 4 anomalies were detected by percutaneous 3D-CEUSC. All of these anomalies were confirmed by X-ray cholangiography. Conclusion Both intra-operative and percutaneous 3D-CEUSC could diagnose biliary anatomical anomalies accurately. These procedures may become important techniques to evaluate the biliary anatomy in hepatobiliary surgery pre-operatively or intraoperatively.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative image fusion assisted contrastenhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in real-time assessing the curative effect on radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods From November 2010 to August 2011,the patients with HCC which would accept radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in our hospital were divided into image fusion assisted CEUS group and conventional CEUS group.The HCC lesion in each group was named as difficult lesion if it was invisible in B-mode ultrasound,larger than 50 mm in diameter or the puncuture route was affected by lung,ribs or blood vessels.Ten minutes after RFA,two groups of patients were performed intraoperative image fusion assisted CEUS examination and conventional CEUS examination respectively.All the patients received CT/MRI one month after ablation to decide whether the HCC had been completely ablated.Difference of complete ablation rate of HCC was compared between the two groups as well as between the difficult lesions in each group.Results Forty-eight lesions in 39 patients were enrolled in image fusion assisted CEUS group including 19 difficult lesions.Sixty-eight lesions in 53 patients were enrolled in conventional CEUS group including 18 difficult lesions.No statistical difference was found between the two groups in lesion size,proportion of difficult lesions,proportion of lesions received TACE or RFA plus PEIT (P =0.052,P =0.136,P =0.185,P =1.000).Postoperation following-up results demonstrated that complete ablation rate of HCC in navigation assisted CEUS group(100 ％,48/48) was not statistically higher than that in conventional CEUS group(92.6％,63/68) (P =0.145).But the difficult lesions in navigation assisted CEUS group (100％,19/19) had statistically higher complete ablation rate than that in conventional CEUS group(72.2％,13/18) (P =0.020).Conclusions Intraoperative navigation assisted CEUS could real-time assess the curative effect on RFA of HCC,especially in the difficult lesions,and could be used as the beneficial supplement of the conventional CEUS.