No abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of pulse inversion harmonic imaging with or without microbubble ultrasonographic contrast agent in depicting renal parenchymal changes in acute pyelonephritis. The study population included 30 patients with acute pyelonephritis and 10 healthy volunteers. Pulse inversion harmonic imaging with or without contrast agent was compared with conventional ultrasonography and tissue harmonic imaging in terms of detection and conspicuity of renal abnormalities. The detection and conspicuity of renal parenchymal abnormalities in acute pyelonephritis on tissue harmonic imaging, pulse inversion harmonic imaging, and contrast-enhanced pulse inversion harmonic imaging were significantly better than those on conventional ultrasonography. In 2 of 10 healthy volunteers all 4 techniques yielded false-positive diagnoses of parenchymal abnormalities. In conclusion, tissue harmonic imaging and pulse inversion harmonic imaging are sensitive techniques for depicting renal parenchymal lesions in acute pyelonephritis. Despite relatively lower specificities and negative predictive values, these techniques are thought to be useful for the depiction of subtle parenchymal changes in acute pyelonephritis.

No abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the usefulness of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in the evaluation of normal and abnormal fetuses.Materials and MethodsForty-one pregnant women who bore a total of 31 normal and ten abnormal fetuses underwent conventional ultrasonography (CUS), and then THI and PIHI. US images of six organ systems, namely the brain, spine, heart, abdomen, extremities and face were compared between the three techniques in terms of overall conspicuity and the definition of borders and internal structures.ResultsFor the brain, heart, abdomen and face, overall conspicuity at THI and PIHI was significantly better than at CUS (p < 0.05). There was, though, no significant difference between THI and PIHI. Affected organs in abnormal fetuses were more clearly depicted at THI and PIHI than at CUS.ConclusionBoth THI and PIHI appear to be superior to CUS for the evaluation of normal or abnormal structures, particularly the brain, heart, abdomen and face.