Objective: To compare the precision of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCEUS) to endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in preoperative T staging of gastric cancers. Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 158 pathologically confirmed gastric cancer patients. All patients underwent DCEUS (intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasonography combined with oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) preoperatively. The histopathological findings of resected specimens were compared with the results of DCEUS and EUS retrospectively. Results: The accuracy of DCEUS and EUS in evaluating the T staging of gastric cancer were 82.3% (T1 62.5%,T2 84.4%,T3 87.9%,T4 91.3%) and 76.6% (T1 84.4%,T2 82.2%,T3 72.4%,T4 65.2%), respectively. There were no significant differences between the methods for the overall T staging accuracy (χ 2 = 1.569, P = 0.210). But EUS was superior to DCEUS for T1 stage (χ 2 = 3.925, P = 0.048) and DCEUS was superior to EUS for T3 stage (χ 2 = 4.393, P = 0.036) and T4 stage (χ 2 = 4.600, P = 0.032). Conclusion: DCEUS is a convenient and noninvasive method with high precision, which can be used as the primary imaging technique for advanced gastric cancer T staging. In early gastric cancer, we should prefer EUS. Two methods are complementary for assessing tumor invasion depth of gastric cancer.

Purpose: To explore the clinical value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma by comparing with enhanced computed tomography. Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 62 patients with pathologically confirmed medullary thyroid carcinoma. All patients underwent ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography examinations before surgery. The findings of the pathologic examination of resected specimens were considered as gold standard and were compared with the results of these 2 methods. Results: There were 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 29 benign lesions in 62 patients. In all, 55 of 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 27 of 29 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound; and 45 of 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 24 of 29 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed by enhanced computed tomography. The accuracy of ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography was 80.4% and 67.6%, respectively. There was significant difference between 2 methods ( P < .05). Conclusions: Ultrasound can be used to observe the location, number, size, shape, border, internal echo, calcification, and blood flow of the lesion. It is a convenient, inexpensive, and nonradiative method with higher accuracy than enhanced computed tomography.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the accuracy of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCEUS) in preoperative Borrmann classification of advanced gastric cancer (AGC).Materials and MethodsA total of 162 patients histologically confirmed AGC were enrolled into this study. Single oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (SOCEUS) were performed in 80 patients and DCEUS (intravenous microbubbles combined with oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound) were performed in 82 patients preoperatively. The findings of the histopathologic examination of resected specimens after surgery were considered as gold standard. The accuracy of SOCEUS was compared with the accuracy of DCEUS in determining Borrmann classification. Interobserver agreement between two sonographyers of SOCEUS and DCEUS had also been assessed.ResultsThe accuracy of SOCEUS and DCEUS in Borrmann classification of advanced gastric cancer were 78.75% and 91.46% respectively. There was a significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 5.186, P < 0.05). The interobserver agreement of two methods was both excellent for assessing the Borrmann classification with a Kappa value of 0.777 by SOCEUS and 0.844 by DCEUS.ConclusionsDCEUS is a valuable method for Borrmann classification with its high accuracy preoperatively. It should be used widely.

Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) was used to evaluate the improvement of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion on the left ventricular (LV) systolic function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitu (T2DM). We recruited T2DM patients (38 cases, diabetic group) and healthy volunteers (35 cases, control group) to collect LV full volume imaging. TomTec software was used for calculating LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), global circumferential strain (LVGCS), peak twist (LVTW), peak apical rotation (LVPAR), ejection fraction (LVEF), and torsion (LVT). All indices were re-tested 2 weeks later after intensive treatment of insulin pump. LVGLS, LVGCS, LVTW and LVPAR in diabetic group were significantly decreased than control group. LVGLS and LVGCS in pre-treatment diabetic group were significantly increased than post-treatment. LVGLS, LVGCS, LVTW and LVPAR had correlations among control, pre-treatment and post-treatment diabetic groups. There were no significant differences in LVEDV, LVESV, LVEF, LVT and R-R. LV systolic function of patients with T2DM complicated with microangiopathy was improved after treatment of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. In addition, therapeutic effect could be accurately evaluated by 3D-STE which had vital clinical application.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the elasticity of the carotid artery and the LV (left ventricle) systolic function in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) by using two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain echocardiography (2D-STE). Methods DN patients ( n = 108) and control subjects ( n = 112), all of whom underwent echocardiography and carotid ultrasound. Analysis of LV GLS (global longitudinal strain) from the apical two-chamber (2C), three-chamber (3C), and four-chamber (4C) views. Meanwhile, the circumferential strain (CS) of the carotid artery was obtained from the view of the short-axis right common carotid artery. The differences between the two groups were compared, and a correlation analysis between CS and GLS was performed. Results The 4CGLS, 2CGLS, 3CGLS, and CS of the DN group were significantly lower at significant levels in contrast to the control group ( p < 0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation of CS with 4CGLS, 2CGLS, and 3CGLS in all subjects ( r = 0.809, p = 0.000; r = 0.830, p = 0.000; r = 0.830, p = 0.000, respectively). Conclusion 2D-STE is a relatively new technique for assessing the mechanical characteristics of the carotid artery in patients with DN. Reduced values of CS correlate with reduced LV systolic function as evaluated by strain measurements, which can predict the risk of systolic dysfunction of LV.