[en] This book provides a comprehensive reference and practical guide on the application of US to penile diseases and conditions. After introductory chapters on technical requirements and penile anatomy, subsequent chapters offer a systematic overview of the diverse applications of color Doppler US. The topics covered include erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease, priapism, trauma, tumors, the postoperative penis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Each topic is introduced by a clinical overview with the purpose of clarifying the problems and elucidating what the urologist may expect from color Doppler US. Thereafter, performance of the US study is explained and the pathological anatomy reviewed. High-quality images obtained with high-end US equipment are included. Each chapter also contains a section on the diagnostic information provided by other imaging modalities, and in particular MRI. (orig.)

[en] Injury to the penis may result from penetrating or nonpenetrating trauma. Nonpenetrating injury to the erect penis can produce albugineal tear, intracavernous hematoma or extraalbugineal hematoma from rupture of the dorsal vessels. Nonpenetrating injury to the flaccid penis usually follows blunt perineal traumas producing extratunical or cavernosal haematomas, or cavernosal artery tear followed by high flow priapism. Differential diagnosis between albugineal tear and other penile injuries must be obtained as soon as possible, since early surgical repair of albugineal tear reduces significantly the rate of postraumatic curvature and fibrosis. Ultrasonography (US) is able to detect the exact site of the tear in most patients as an interruption of the thin echogenic line of the tunica albuginea. Other imaging techniques are rarely required in the clinical practice. Color Doppler US is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate patients with high flow priapism. Focal or diffuse cavernosal fibrosis can be identified with US as echogenic areas in the cavernosal bodies. Postraumatic erectile dysfunction can result from fibrotic changes, nerve and vascular impairment or both. Doppler evaluation of penile vasculature is required in young patients with postraumatic impotence before surgical revascularization procedures. (orig.)

[en] The purpose of this study was to determine if pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) can characterize liver hemangiomas. We retrospectively evaluated 39 consecutive patients with liver hemangiomas, 20 typical on conventional US (hyperechoic, homogeneous, or slightly inhomogeneous and with sharp margins) and 19 atypical (11 inhomogeneous with different echogenicity larger than 3 cm, 6 hypoechoic, and 2 isoechoic smaller than 3 cm). Each liver hemangioma was firstly evaluated by PIHI and then confirmed by dynamic helical CT (28 patients) or by 6 months of US follow-up (11 patients). The PIHI was performed by two distinct sweeps on a marker lesion, 30 s (vascular phase) and from 3 to 5 min (late phase) after bolus injection of Levovist (2.5 g, 300 mg/ml). Scans were digitally stored and reviewed using a dedicated software. Contrast enhancement features of marker lesion were subjectively evaluated. Typical hemangiomas on conventional US revealed on PIHI a characteristic rim-like or peripheral globular enhancement on 30-s scan in 4 of 20 cases (20%) and a characteristic isoechoic pattern on late phase in 16 of 20 cases (80%). On PIHI, all (11 of 11) atypical hemangiomas larger than 3 cm and 4 of 8 atypical liver hemangiomas smaller than 3 cm revealed a characteristic rim-like or peripheral globular enhancement on vascular phase with a characteristic centripetal fill-in on late phase. In 4 of 8 atypical liver hemangiomas smaller than 3 cm no characteristic pattern was revealed by PIHI. Pulse inversion harmonic imaging revealed a typical pattern in the majority of liver hemangiomas typical and atypical on conventional US. In few liver hemangiomas atypical on conventional US PIHI did not identify a characteristic pattern and helical CT was necessary for final characterization. (orig.)

[en] Hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease is caused by the presence of circulating autoantibodies to the THS receptors on the thyroid cells. Thyroid-suppression therapy prevents hormone production directly, without affecting the pathogenetic process. They performed color Doppler US of the thyroid gland and pulsed Doppler analysis of thyroid artery flow in 21 patients with Graves' disease before and during medical treatment. US results were compared with those of a control group of 40 healthy subjects and correlated with the values of thyroid hormones, TSH and thyroid microsomal and thyroglobulin antibodies. The thyroid gland was hypo vascularized in the control group. Pulsed Doppler examination of the thyroid arteries exhibited peak systolic velocity of PSV 20 ± 4 cm/s, diastolic velocity of 8 ± 1 cm/s, and resistive index of 0.60 ± 0.04. The thyroid gland of Graves' disease patients was hyper vascularized. Pulsed Doppler examination of the thyroid arteries exhibited peak systolic velocity (PSV = 51 ± 12 cm/s), end diastolic velocity (VD = 15 ± 4 cm/s) and resistive index (RI = 0.71 ± 0.04) significantly higher than in normal subjects (p < 0.001). Circulating thyroid hormones and flow parameters normalized after 6-8 months of medical therapy (PSV = 20 ± 6 cm/s, VD = 9 ± 3 cm(s, RI = 0.58 ± 0.07). The color Doppler patterns normalized only in a patient with normal TSH and antibodies. Sampling of the thyroid arteries proved more repeatable than sampling of parenchymal vessels

[en] The effectiveness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the evaluation of patients with acute renal infarcts was investigated, using contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography (CT) as the reference imaging procedure. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with acute renal infarcts detected with contrast-enhanced helical CT underwent CEUS. Digital cine-clips of CEUS were evaluated by two independent readers blinded to CT findings. Image quality was rated subjectively on a four-point scale. Then, readers were asked to assign a confidence level in diagnosis of renal infarct at the upper pole, medium portion, and lower pole of each kidney according to a five-degree scale, ranging from definitely absent to definitely present. ROC curve analysis was employed to assess the overall confidence of diagnosis of infarct, and weighted kappa values were calculated to assess inter-reader agreement. The subjective image quality of CEUS was lower than the image quality of CT at the upper poles. However, the diagnostic performance of CEUS was excellent (area under receiver-operator characteristic curve 0.992 ± 0.006 for reader 1; 0.991 ± 0.007 for reader 2), with very good inter-reader agreement (weighted kappa value = 0.83). CEUS is a reproducible tool to detect acute renal infarcts in men, with a diagnostic performance approaching that of CT. (orig.)

[en] The aim of this study was to evaluate capabilities of pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) with Levovist in detection of liver metastases compared with conventional ultrasound (US) and helical CT (HCT). One hundred sixty consecutive patients with known malignancies were evaluated by conventional US, PIHI 2 min (40 patients) or 4 min (120 patients) after Levovist injection and HCT. Conspicuity and number of the identified metastatic lesions were evaluated and assessed by statistical analysis (significance p<0.05). Mean diameter of the smallest identified metastases was computed for conventional US, PIHI and HCT. In cases where PIHI revealed more lesions suspicious for metastases than HCT, intraopertive US with surgical biopsy or 3-6-month US follow-up were performed to confirm diagnosis. Images were stored on magneto-optical disk and evaluated off-line by a dedicated software. Metastases conspicuity was significantly improved on PIHI if compared with conventional US (p<0.05). In 49 patients all the employed imaging techniques did not reveal any lesion, whereas in the remaining 111 patients, 28 patients revealed more than five metastatic lesions and 83 patients presented from one to five metastatic lesions. In comparison with conventional US, PIHI revealed more metastases in 39/83 (47%), the same number in 44/83 (53%) and a lower number in 0/83 (0%) patients. In comparison with HCT, PIHI revealed more metastases in 10/83 (12%), the same number in 61/83 (74%) and a lower number in 12/83 (14%) patients. Average number ± SD (standard deviation) of confirmed metastases for patients was 2.21±1.6 for conventional US, 3.1±2.44 for PIHI and 3.05±2.41 for HCT. The difference between PIHI and conventional US was statistically significant (p<0.0001), whereas the difference between PIHI and HCT was not significant (p=0.9). The smallest identified metastases presented 3-mm mean diameter on PIHI, 5-mm on HCT and 7-mm on conventional US. PIHI with Levovist is a reliable technique in metastases detection. (orig.)

[en] Highlights: • On cross-sectional imaging studies performed for other indications, incidental discovery of renal lesions is common. • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become a powerful additional tool for the assessment of renal masses. • Established applications of CEUS in imaging renal masses are differentiation between solid tumors, pseudolesions, and complex cysts; characterization of complex cysts with different malignant potential, and evaluation of tumour ablation. • Microbubble contrast agents are safe. Adverse reactions are rare. - Abstract: On cross-sectional imaging studies performed for other indications, incidental discovery of renal lesions is not uncommon. In daily use, grey-scale ultrasonography (US) and conventional Doppler modes are often the modality of choice for the initial assessment. While simple cysts are fully characterized with US, other lesions require further characterization, which is traditionally obtained by multiphase imaging, such as contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become a powerful additional tool for imaging renal lesions. With its lack of nephrotoxicity, the absence of ionizing radiation, and the ability to evaluate the enhancement pattern of renal lesions quickly and in real- time, CEUS has unique advantages over traditional modes. Established applications are differentiation between solid tumours, pseudolesions, and complex cysts; characterization of complex cysts with different malignant potential, and evaluation of tumor ablation. Microbubble contrast agents are safe. Adverse reactions are rare. This article provides an overview of the current clinical applications of CEUS in characterizing renal masses, discussing advantages and limitations. The aim is to provide the framework for sonologists to make informed decisions regarding this emerging imaging test in appropriate circumstances.

[en] Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract include a wide range of malformations ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening conditions. Although pediatric urogenital system imaging is based on the use of US (pre- and postnatal), voiding cystourethrography and scintigraphic study, magnetic resonance (MR) urography plays a fundamental role in the classification and management of congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract, giving an overview of the different clinical pictures, thanks to its panoramicity and high anatomical detail. In fact the anomalies of the urinary tract are phenotypically variable because they can affect simultaneously several segments of different embryonic derivation, with complex clinical pictures; they can appear both as isolated phenotypes or as complex malformative conditions, involving renal parenchyma, collecting system and bladder. A deep knowledge of this complex embryogenesis and its possible phenotypic patterns allows a correct interpretation of MR urography images. We describe the embryology and pathophysiology of congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract as well as MR urography technique and findings. Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract are classified into four groups: (1) obstruction (proximal, middle and distal), (2) budding with respect to the Wolffian duct (site and number of ureter), (3) ascent and rotation (ectopia, malrotation and fusion of kidney) and (4) anomaly of metanephric differentiation (dysplasia, megapolicalycosis).

[en] The increasing detection of small testicular lesions by ultrasound (US) in adults can lead to unnecessary orchiectomies. This article describes their nature, reviews the available literature on this subject and illustrates some classical lesions. We also suggest recommendations to help characterization and management. The ESUR scrotal imaging subcommittee searched for original and review articles published before May 2015 using the Pubmed and Medline databases. Key words used were 'testicular ultrasound', 'contrast-enhanced sonography', 'sonoelastography', 'magnetic resonance imaging', 'testis-sparing surgery', 'testis imaging', 'Leydig cell tumour', 'testicular cyst'. Consensus was obtained amongst the members of the subcommittee, urologist and medical oncologist. Simple cysts are frequent and benign, and do not require follow up or surgery. Incidentally discovered small solid testicular lesions detected are benign in up to 80 %, with Leydig cell tumours being the most frequent. However, the presence of microliths, macrocalcifications and hypoechoic areas surrounding the nodule are findings suggestive of malignant disease. Asymptomatic small testicular lesions found on ultrasound are mainly benign, but findings such as microliths or hypoechoic regions surrounding the nodules may indicate malignancy. Colour Doppler US remains the basic examination for characterization. The role of newer imaging modalities in characterization is evolving. (orig.)

[en] The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPI-WG) appointed by the board of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) has produced recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the scrotum. The SPI-WG searched for original and review articles published before September 2016 using the Pubmed and Medline databases. Keywords used were 'magnetic resonance imaging', 'testis or testicle or testicular', 'scrotum', 'intratesticular', 'paratesticular', 'extratesticular' 'diffusion-weighted', 'dynamic MRI'. Consensus was obtained among the members of the subcommittee. The expert panel proposed recommendations using Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence. The recommended MRI protocol should include T1-, T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Scrotal MRI can be clinically applied for lesion characterisation (primary), including both intratesticular and paratesticular masses, differentiation between germ-cell and non-germ-cell neoplasms (evolving), characterisation of the histological type of testicular germ cell neoplasms (TGCNs, in selected cases), local staging of TGCNs (primary), acute scrotum (in selected cases), trauma (in selected cases) and undescended testes (primary). The ESUR SPI-WG produced this consensus paper in which the existing literature on MRI of the scrotum is reviewed. The recommendations for the optimal imaging technique and clinical indications are presented. (orig.)