Journal of Ultrasound最新文献

{"title":"Point-of-care ultrasound in primary care: time for a standardized Italian curriculum?","authors":"Tommaso Barnini, Paolo Pace, Dalprà Camilla, Alessandro Mereu, Andrea Balbarini, Carlo Riccò, Tommaso Gistri, Domenico De Stefano, Paolo Demaria, Silvio Tuccillo, Carlo Toscani, Riccardo Govoni, Jacopo Demurtas, Annarita Saponara, Esterita Accogli, Giulia Bandini","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01142-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01142-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147640535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Learning curves for point-of-care ultrasound of the proximal femur: a prospective multicenter study.","authors":"Remi L H Barateau, Ralitsa Stoeva, Fabien Le Van, Thibaut Goetsch, Isabelle Riom, Jérome Bokobza","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01144-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01144-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Proximal femur fractures are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although X-ray remains the reference diagnostic tool, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) shows promising diagnostic accuracy and allows immediate guidance for regional anesthesia. However, its learning process has not been formally evaluated.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To establish the learning curves for a standardized proximal femur POCUS protocol, acquisition times were compared according to prior ultrasound experience, and participant feedback was collected.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective multicenter study was conducted between September 2024 and February 2025. Volunteer healthcare professionals underwent a short training session and performed repeated proximal femur ultrasound examinations on healthy subjects. Learning curves were analyzed via the LC-CUSUM method. Acquisition times and questionnaire-based feedback were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen participants underwent 520 ultrasound examinations. After approximately 25 scans, all participants were able to complete a bilateral proximal femur examination within 60 s. The mean acquisition time decreased significantly between sessions (p < 0.001). Radiologists performed faster than nonradiologists did, but the differences narrowed over time. The technique was perceived as easy to learn and perform.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Proximal femur POCUS is a rapidly acquired skill requiring approximately 25 scans to reach technical proficiency. This technique could be easily integrated into emergency department workflows and may facilitate earlier integration of ultrasound into the diagnostic pathway as well as faster implementation of regional anesthesia. Further patient-based studies are needed to assess diagnostic accuracy in traumatic settings and to determine whether technical proficiency translates into reliable fracture detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147628302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The paradox of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in women: gender differences.","authors":"Angela Di Giorgio, Bianca Biferali, Marco D'Angelo, Ilaria Urbani, Antonio Nesci, Carnuccio Claudia, Luca Santoro, Alessia D'Alessandro, Angelo Santoliquido","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01145-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01145-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Carotid atherosclerosis is a pathological condition associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, causing approximately 6 million deaths each year. Gender differences reveal that although men have a higher incidence of stroke than women, they exhibit lower rates of stroke-related death and disability. This discrepancy is likely due to women presenting more atypical symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, and unexplained dizziness, leading to delayed hospital arrival and diagnosis. Early recognition and treatment aimed at preventing the progression of existing carotid atherosclerosis can significantly reduce complications. We present two clinical cases involving patients attending an angiological clinic: a female and a male patient with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, highlighting gender differences in risk factors and atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. We also emphasize how prevention and initiation of best medical therapy can bring significant benefits in life expectancy and complication reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147534490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of dermatofibromas and epidermoid cysts using dermoscopy-guided high-frequency ultrasound imaging.","authors":"P Hamilton-Meikle, M Boostani, N Kiss, G Pellacani, P Holló, N Wikonkál, S Bozsányi, A Bánvölgy, C Cantisani","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01131-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01131-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Epidermoid cysts and dermatofibromas may resemble malignant lesions, requiring accurate non-invasive differentiation. Our objective was to assess dermoscopy-guided high-frequency ultrasound (DG-HFUS) in distinguishing these lesions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Nine lesions (four epidermoid cysts, five dermatofibromas) were examined using DG-HFUS with a 33 MHz linear probe in B-mode. The dermoscopic modality guided probe placement. For each lesion, a minimum of 10 consecutive frames were acquired to ensure measurement reproducibility. Lesions were evaluated based on predetermined characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Epidermoid cysts presented as well-circumscribed, oval lesions located in the dermis or dermal-subcutaneous border, with depths of 1.4-8.7 mm. All showed mixed echogenicity with hyperechoic foci and bands. Dermatofibromas were smaller (2.4-3.5 mm), within the dermis, hypoechoic with scattered hyperechoic areas, poorly defined margins, and 3-5 hypoechoic bands extending into surrounding structures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>DG-HFUS reliably correlated dermoscopic and sonographic features, enhancing non-invasive diagnosis of benign cutaneous lesions.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147534521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sequential contrast-enhanced ultrasound assessment of intraplaque enhancement in carotid plaques.","authors":"N Morelli, E Rota, M Spallazzi, M Biondi, S Gallerini","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01146-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01146-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the feasibility and internal consistency of a sequential dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound protocol combining wash-in/wash-out and destruction-replenishment analyses for the assessment of intraplaque contrast enhancement in symptomatic patients with moderate carotid stenosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective single-center study included 38 symptomatic patients with ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis of 50-69% who underwent carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasound with a consistent acquisition approach. Dynamic analysis was performed sequentially using wash-in/wash-out and destruction-replenishment techniques. Plaques were classified according to the presence of reproducible intraplaque contrast enhancement on contrast-specific imaging. Semi-quantitative parameters were extracted in enhancement-positive plaques when feasible. Agreement between wash-in/wash-out and destruction-replenishment plaque classification was assessed using Cohen's kappa coefficient.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Wash-in/wash-out analysis was feasible in 31 of 38 cases (82%), whereas destruction-replenishment analysis was feasible in 37 of 38 cases (97%). At least one technically adequate dynamic assessment was obtained in all patients. Reproducible intraplaque contrast enhancement was identified in 25 of 38 plaques (65.8%). Semi-quantitative analysis was feasible in 20 enhancement-positive plaques using wash-in/wash-out and in all enhancement-positive plaques using destruction-replenishment. Agreement between techniques, assessed in plaques with adequate acquisitions for both methods (n = 30), was good (κ = 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.90).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A sequential wash-in/wash-out and destruction-replenishment contrast-enhanced ultrasound protocol is feasible in symptomatic patients with moderate ICA stenosis and provides a coherent, signal-based assessment of intraplaque contrast enhancement in routine clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147516659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility study of transvaginal biplanar convex ultrasound for evaluating levator ani muscle.","authors":"XinTing Liu, RuiJie Sun, NiYa Wei, XiaoKun Li, Yue Wang","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01129-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01129-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the clinical feasibility and value of transvaginal biplanar convex ultrasound for evaluating the levator ani muscle (LAM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cross-sectional study enrolled 130 Chinese women undergoing pelvic floor ultrasound examinations. One doctor (operator 1) performed transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound for tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) of the LAM. Concurrently, transvaginal biplanar convex ultrasound was used to assess LAM continuity and thickness, measuring the thickness of the attachment and middle portions and the anal canal level. Seven days later, the same doctor (operator 1) and another doctor (operator 2) repeated the LAM thickness measurements. Cohen's kappa coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to analyze the results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Transvaginal biplanar convex ultrasound demonstrated excellent consistency with TUI for diagnosing LAM avulsion (Cohen's kappa = 0.74, 95% CI 0.50-0.98). Thickness measurements of each specified segment exhibited excellent intraobserver and good interobserver repeatability (ICC = 0.82-0.86 and 0.74-0.77, respectively). Bland-Altman analysis indicated good consistency between the two operators' measurements.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Transvaginal biplanar convex ultrasound is a simple, reliable imaging screening method for LAM evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147488499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing conventional biopsies: ultrasound-guided percutaneous bone marrow biopsy and aspiration.","authors":"Caroline Cushman, Alex Smith, Karter Morris, Lauren Dodson, Andrew F Ibrahim, Evan J Hernandez, Brendan J MacKay, Thomas Callahan, Mohammed Attaya","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01125-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01125-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To determine the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided bone marrow biopsy technique.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent percutaneous bone marrow core biopsy and aspiration at a single institution from January 2017 to June 2024. Success metrics included lack of patient grievances, precision of sample acquisition, and technical procedural success.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A sample population of 254 was composed of 150 males (median age of 63 years) and 104 females (median age of 63 years). The median (range) BMI was 27.08 (15.31-50.17) for males and 28.79 (17.17-54) for females. The technique achieved 100% accuracy rate with no procedure failures or adverse events reported. Samples collected were viable for pathology assessment. Procedure times ranged from 5 to 30 min. The biopsy was used in various diagnosis of histopathological disease processes. There were no reported dry taps on aspiration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>US-guided percutaneous bone marrow biopsy and aspiration emerges as a promising technique, offering numerous advantages over traditional palpated landmark, fluoroscopic and CT-guided approaches. With its ability to provide real-time guidance, avoidance of ionizing radiation, and comprehensive evaluation of adjacent soft tissues and neurovascular structures, US-guided bone biopsy holds significant promise as an alternative to earlier methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147476414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comment on \"Artificial intelligence-assisted muscular ultrasonography for assessing inflammation and muscle mass in patients at risk of malnutrition\".","authors":"Hasan Nawaz Tahir","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01134-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01134-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147476366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings of non-functional bladder paraganglioma: a case report.","authors":"Ju Zhu, Luping Liu, Fang Nie","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01135-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01135-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stepping into clarity: high-resolution ultrasound unveils the hidden spectrum of ankle and foot pain.","authors":"Naresh Kumar, Satyam, Anjali Prakash, Gaurav Shanker Pradhan, Sapna Singh","doi":"10.1007/s40477-026-01141-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-026-01141-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) has emerged as an accessible imaging modality for evaluating ankle and foot pain. This study aimed to describe the spectrum of HRUS findings in patients presenting with ankle or foot pain and document the range of pathologies identifiable with this technique.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective descriptive study was conducted over 12 months involving systematic HRUS examination of 40 adult patients presenting with ankle or foot pain. All relevant compartments of the ankle (anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral) and the foot (plantar and dorsal) were evaluated using a standardized protocol. Vascularity was assessed using color and power Doppler imaging. Plain radiographs were obtained in all cases, and MRI or surgical correlation was available in selected cases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HRUS found 50 pathologies in 40 patients. There were 31 patients with a single pathology, 8 with dual pathologies, and 1 with three pathologies. Ligamentous injuries were most common (21 cases, 36%), followed by tendon abnormalities (14 cases, 28%). Other findings were plantar fasciitis (4 cases, 8%), soft tissue collections with bony irregularities suggestive of tuberculosis (4 cases, 8%), joint effusion with internal echoes (2 cases, 4%), ganglion cysts (2 cases, 4%), and vascular malformations (2 cases, 4%). There was one case each of synovial osteochondromatosis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, synovial sarcoma, and plexiform neurofibroma.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HRUS identified multiple ankle and foot pathologies, proving especially effective for superficial soft tissues. Its high spatial resolution, dynamic assessment, accessibility, and lack of ionizing radiation support its use as a first-line imaging tool. A planned sensitivity-specificity comparison with MRI, aiming for at least 90% agreement, may validate HRUS and foster research funding. However, limitations such as small sample size, operator bias, and limited MRI correlation warrant cautious interpretation and highlight the need for further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":51528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ultrasound","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}