Objective To assess the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) vessels in patients with breast reconstruction flaps by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) reconstruction techniques.Methods Conventional ultrasound,CEUS and 3DUS were used to evaluate DIEP vessels of breast reconstruction flaps in 43 patients before surgical procedures.The identification,localization and spatial relationship of DIEP vessels were analyzed with conventional ultrasound,CEUS and 3DUS methods.The findings of CEUS and 3DUS were compared to conventional ultrasound and surgical outcome.Results Compared to CDFI,40 cases (93％) were observed more clearly with CEUS,and were showed more accurately than conventional ultrasound.41 cases (95％) could be displayed wonderfully in 3D ultrasound.Perforators which were detected by ultrasound were confirmed in the surgery and the transferred flaps survived completely.Conclusions Perforators can be displayed more clearly and located more accurately by CEUS and 3DUS.CEUS and 3DUS could play a very important role in the preoperative navigation of the DIEP than conventional ultrasound.

Objective To evaluate and demonstrate ultrasonographic characteristics of mandibular ameloblastoma with active proliferation. Methods Nineteen subjects with ameloblastomas in the mandibles were examined with ultrasonography. In addition to sizes,internal echoes,the research was focused on blood flow of the tumors and destruction of mandibles. Ultrasonographic appearances of the tumors were compared with histopathological findings. Sensitivity and specificity of Doppler flow signals and destruction of mandibles for prediction of active tumor proliferations were calculated. Results Fifteen cases (79%)showed no or minimal flow signals on color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI), whereas the remaining 4 lesions demonstrated abundant flow signals,in which 3 cases were confirmed histopathologically with active tumor proliferations. The sensitivity and specificity of the Doppler flow signals for prediction of active tumor proliferations were 100% and 94%, respectively. Fourteen cases (74%) showed the mandibular cortices were thin but continuous,among the remaining 5 lesions showed local cortices destruction,3 of them were confirmed histopathologically with active proliferations. The sensitivity and specificity of the destruction of cortical bone for prediction of active tumor proliferations were 100% and 88 %, respectively. Conclusions Ultrasonography can be used as a new effective supplementary diagnostic method for mandibular ameloblastomas. CDFI of tumor vascularity and destruction of cortical bone could be used to predict active tumor proliferations and invasiveness.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the treatment status of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in Shandong province,by analyzing the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors.

METHODSClinicopathological and follow-up data of 1 165 patients with gastric GIST between January 2000 and December 2013 from 23 tertiary referral hospitals in Shandong Province were collected to establish a database. The risk stratification of all cases was performed according to the National Institutes of Health(NIH) criteria proposed in 2008. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate. Log-rank test and Cox regression model were used for univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses.

RESULTSAmong 1 165 cases of gastric GIST, 557 were male and 608 were female. The median age of onset was 60 (range 15-89) years. Primary tumors were located in the gastric fundus and cardia in 623 cases(53.5%), gastric body in 346 cases(29.7%), gastric antrum in 196 cases(16.8%). All the cases underwent resection of tumors, including endoscopic resection (n=106), local resection (n=589), subtotal gastrectomy(n=399), and total gastrectomy(n=72). Based on the NIH risk stratification, there were 256 cases (22.0%) at very low risk, 435 (37.3%) at low risk, 251 cases (21.5%) at intermediate risk, and 223 cases (19.1%) at high risk. A total of 1 116 cases(95.8%) were followed up and the median follow-up period was 40 (range, 1-60) months. During the period, 337 patients relapsed and the median time to recurrence was 34 (range 1-60) months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 98.6%, 86.1% and 73.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of patients at very low, low, intermediate, and high risk were 93.1%, 85.8%, 63.0% and 42.3% respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.000). Multivariate analysis showed that primary tumor site (RR=0.580, 95%CI:0.402-0.835), tumor size (RR=0.450, 95%CI:0.266-0.760), intraoperative tumor rupture(RR=0.557, 95%CI:0.336-0.924), risk classification (RR=0.309, 95%CI:0.164-0.580) and the use of imatinib after surgery (RR=1.993, 95%CI:1.350-2.922) were independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSThe choice of surgical procedure for gastric GIST patients should be based on tumor size. All the routine procedures including endoscopic resection, local excision, subtotal gastrectomy and total gastrectomy can obtain satisfactory curative outcomes. NIH classification has a high value for the prediction of prognosis. Primary tumor site, tumor size, intraoperative tumor rupture, risk stratification and postoperative use of imatinib are independent prognostic factors in gastric GIST patients.