No description available.

Introdução: A espinha bífida tem incidência de 0,5 a 0,8 / 1.000 nascimentos, com mortalidade neonatal ao redor de 33% e sequelas em torno de 65% nos sobreviventes. Em relação ao diagnóstico, a ultrasonografia é capaz de diagnosticar cerca de 80% a 100% dos casos de espinha bífida. Objetivo: Avaliar comparativamente a precisão da ultrasonografia bidimensional e da ultra-sonografia tridimensional em determinar o nível da lesão vertebral (primeira vértebra aberta ) em casos espinha bífida aberta fetal comparada à avaliação pós-natal realizada por exame radiológico da coluna vertebral do recém-nascido. Método: Estudo prospectivo longitudinal analisou fetos com espinha bífida aberta atendidos no Setor de Medicina Fetal da Clínica Obstétrica do HCFMUSP, durante o período compreendido entre os anos de 2004 a 2008. Foi estabelecido o nível da lesão vertebral em 45 fetos por meio de exames ultra-sonográficos bidimensionais e tridimensionais ( dois examinadores em cada método). O nível da lesão no pós-natal foi estabelecido por exame radiológico (radiografia simples) da coluna do recém-nascido, considerado o padrão ouro para sua definição, sendo então comparado ao nível encontrado nos exames ultra-sonográficos bidimensionais e tridimensionais pré-natais. As gestações foram seguidas no ambulatório de pré-natal e o parto programado para correção cirúrgica pós-natal imediata. Resultado: Precisão diagnóstica do nível de lesão da espinha bífida pela ultra-sonografia bidimensional de 47,7 %, elevando-se para 77,7 %, se considerado o erro de até um nível, 87,7 % com até dois níveis e de 100 % com até três níveis, com boa concordância interobservador neste método. Precisão diagnóstica do nível de lesão da espinha bífida pela ultra-sonografia tridimensional de 44,4 %, elevando-se para 80,0 % se considerado o erro de até um nível, 88,8 % com até dois níveis e de 100 % com até três níveis, com boa concordância interobservador neste método. Nos casos em que houveram erro no diagnóstico do nível da lesão, tendência a subestimação do nível da lesão nos dois métodosbidimensional: 55,3% dos casos e tridimensional: 62% dos casos). Conclusões:. Não houve diferença percentual relevante entre a detecção realizada pela ultra-sonografia bidimensional e pela tridimensional, não se demonstrando vantagens no uso da metodologia tridimensional no diagnóstico do nível de lesão nos casos de espinha bífida. Houve têndencia a subestimar o erro em ambas as metodologias. / Introduction: Incidence of spina bifida is about 0.5 to 0.8 per 1,000 births, with neonatal mortality around 33% and handicap in about 65% of survivors. Sonography diagnoses about 80% to 100% of cases. Objective: To evaluate the precision of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional sonography in determining vertebral lesion level (the first open vertebra) in open spina bifida cases compared to postnatal radiological assessment of the newborn. Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study comprising fetuses with open spina bifida attending the Fetal Medicine division of the Obstetrics Department, HCFMUSP, from 2004 to 2008. Vertebral lesion level was established by both two-dimensional and three-dimensional sonography in 45 fetuses (two examiners in each method). Lesion level in the neonatal period was established by radiological assessment (simple X-rays) of the spine, considered as the gold standard. This was compared to the level found in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional prenatal scans. All pregnancies were followed in our hospital prenatally and delivery was scheduled in order to allow immediate postnatal surgical correction. Results: Two-dimensional sonography precisely estimated the spina bifida level in 47.7% of cases. In 77.7% of cases, the estimate error was within one vertebra, in 87.7% up to two vertebrae and in 100% up to three vertebrae, showing a good interobserver agreement. Three-dimensional sonography precisely estimated the lesion level in 44.4 of cases. In 80 % of cases, the estimate error was within one vertebra, in 88.8% up to two vertebrae and in 100% up to three vertebrae, also showing a good interobserver agreement. Whenever an estimate error was observed, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional scans tended to underestimate the true lesion level (55.3% of cases in twodimensional scans and 62% in three-dimensional). Conclusions: No relevant differences between diagnostic performance of two-dimensional and three-dimensional scans were observed. The use of three-dimensional sonography showed no additional benefit in diagnosing the lesion level in cases of spina bífida. Errors in both methods showed a tendency to underestimate the lesion level.

Many applications of ultrasound test phantoms require that the acoustical properties of the phantom should closely match those of soft tissue. Numerous commercial test phantoms of this type are available for use with clinical ultrasound scanners, which use frequencies up to 20 MHz. However, scanners designed for imaging small animals in preclinical studies, typically operate at much higher frequencies. No commercially available test phantoms exist for use at frequencies above 20 MHz. The aim of this work was to develop a tissue-mimicking-material (TMM) that closely matches the acoustic properties of small animal tissues at high frequencies (HF). Such a material would, therefore, be suitable for ultrasound test phantoms for application with HF ultrasound scanners (20 MHz to 50 MHz). A three-step approach was adopted to address this lack of a suitable HF-TMM. Firstly, verify the acoustic characteristics of the existing IEC agar-based TMM. Secondly, establish the acoustic properties (speed of sound and attenuation coefficient) of small animal tissue at high frequencies. Thirdly, develop a TMM which exhibits, as closely as possible, these small animal tissue acoustic characteristics. A pulse-echo substitution method was used throughout to characterise the materials and the tissue samples. The speed of sound and attenuation coefficient of an IEC agar-based TMM were measured using two different techniques. Initially, a widely used method was tried, where samples are wrapped in film and placed in degassed, deionised water for assessment. The second technique was developed and validated for use in this work. In this method, TMM samples were uncovered (without film) and were both stored and assessed in a TMM preserving fluid. The second method provided up to four times more consistent results. The acoustical properties of the individual components of the IEC agar-based TMM were then measured in order to determine whether the overall attenuation coefficient of the agar TMM was a linear sum of the attenuation coefficients of its component parts. Within experimental uncertainties, this was found to be the case. This is a key observation from which the formulation of an agar TMM, matching the acoustic properties of small animal tissue, can be facilitated. The acoustical properties (speed of sound and attenuation coefficient) of mouse brain, liver, and kidney were measured using a preclinical ultrasound scanner.

Introdução: O tratamento da Insuficiência Venosa Crônica (IVC) é baseado na correção dos refluxos e obstruções ao fluxo sanguíneo venoso. A detecção, a gravidade e o tratamento dessas obstruções venosas, responsáveis pelos sinais e sintomas da IVC, têm sido recentemente estudados e melhor compreendidos. Estes estudos não definem qual o grau de obstrução significativa nem os critérios ultrassonográficos para sua detecção. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar critérios ultrassonográficos para o diagnóstico das obstruções venosas ilíacas, avaliando a concordância deste método com o ultrassom intravascular (UI) em pacientes portadores de IVC avançada. Métodos: Foram avaliados 15 pacientes (30 membros; 49,4 ± 10,7 anos; 1 homem) com IVC inicial (Classificação Clínica-Etiológica-Anatômica-Physiopatológica - CEAP C1-2) no grupo I (GI) e 51 pacientes (102 membros; 50,53 ± 14,5 anos; 6 homens) com IVC avançada (CEAP C3-6) no grupo II (GII) pareados por sexo, idade e etnia. Todos pacientes foram submetidos à entrevista clínica e à ultrassonografia vascular com Doppler (UV-D), sendo obtidas as medidas de fasicidade de fluxo, os índices de fluxo e velocidades venosas femorais, e as relações de velocidade e de diâmetro da obstrução ilíaca. Foi analisado o escore de refluxo multisegmentar. Os indivíduos do GI foram avaliados por 3 examinadores independentes. Os pacientes do GII foram submetidos ao UI, sendo obtidos a área dos segmentos venosos comprometidos e comparados com os resultados obtidos pelo UV-D, agrupados em 3 categorias: obstruções < 50%; obstruções entre 50-79% e obstruções >= 80%. Resultados: A classe de severidade clinica CEAP predominante no GI foi C1 em 24/30 (80%) membros, e C3 em 54/102 (52,9%) membros no GII. O refluxo foi severo (escore de refluxo multisegmentar >= 3) em 3/30 (10%) membros no grupo I, e em 45/102 (44,1%) membros no grupo II (p<0,001). Houve uma concordância moderadamente elevada entre o UV-D e o UI, quando agrupadas em 3 categorias (K=0,598; p<0,001), e uma concordância elevada quando agrupadas em 2 categorias (obstruções <50% e >= 50%) (K= 0,784; p<0,001). Os melhores pontos de corte e sua correlação com o UI foram: índice de velocidade (0,9; r=-0,634; p<0,001); índice de fluxo (0,7; r=-0,623; p<0,001); relação de obstrução (0,5; r=0,750; p<0,001); relação de velocidade (2,5; r= 0,790; p<0,001); A ausência de fasicidade de fluxo esteve presente em 88,2% dos pacientes com obstrução >=80% ao UV-D. Foi construído um algoritmo ultrassonográfico vascular, utilizando as medidas e os pontos de corte descritos obtendo-se uma acurácia de 79,6% para 3 categorias (K=0,655; p<0,001) e de 86,7% para 2 categorias (k=0,730; p<0,001). Conclusões: O UV-D apresentou uma concordância elevada com o UI na detecção de obstruções >= 50%. A relação de velocidade na obstrução >= 2,5 é o melhor critério para detecção de obstruções venosas significativas em veias ilíacas. / Introduction: The treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is based on correction of reflux and obstruction of venous blood flow. The detection, severity and treatment of venous obstructions, responsible for signs and symptoms of CVI have been recently studied and better understood. These studies did not define the degree of significant obstruction or the sonographic criteria for its detection. The purpose of this study was to determine the sonographic criteria for diagnosis of iliac venous outflow obstruction by assessing the correlation of this method with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with advanced chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Methods: The evaluation included 15 patients (30 limbs, age 49.4 ± 10.7 years; 1 man) with initial CVI symptoms (Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology classification - CEAP C1-2) in group I (GI) and 51 patients (102 limbs, 50.53 ± 14.5 years, 6 men) with advanced CVI symptoms (CEAP C3-6) in group II (GII). Patients from both groups were matched by gender, age and ethnicity. All patients underwent a clinic interviews and Duplex Ultrasound (DU), measuring the flow phasicity, the femoral volume flows and velocities, and the velocities and obstructions ratios in the iliac vein. The Reflux Multisegment Score were analyzed. Three independent observers evaluated individuals in GI. GII patients were submitted to IVUS, in which the area of the impaired venous segments was obtained and compared to the DU results, and then grouped into 3 categories: obstructions < 50%; obstructions between 50 and 79% and obstructions >= 80%. Results: The predominant clinical severity CEAP class was C1 in 24/30 (80%) limbs in GI and C3 in 54/102 (52.9%) limbs in GII. Reflux was severe (reflux multisegment score >= 3) in 3/30 (10%) limbs in GI and 45/102 (44.1%) limbs in GII (p<0.001). There was a moderately high agreement between DU and IVUS findings when grouped into 3 categories (k= 0.598; p<0.001), and high agreement when grouped into 2 categories (obstructions <50% and >= 50%) (k=0.784; p<0.001). The best cut-off points and their correlation with IVUS were 0.9 for the velocity index (r =-0.634; p< 0.001); 0.7 for the flow index (r=-0.623; p<0.001); 0.5 for the obstruction ratio (r=0.750; p<0.001), and 2.5 for the velocity ratio (r=0.790; p<0.001). Absence of flow phasicity was observed in 62.5% of patients with obstructions >= 80%. An ultrasound algorithm was created using the measures and the described cut-off points with accuracy of 86.7% for detecting significant obstructions (>= 50%) with high agreement (k=0.73; p< 0.001). Conclusions: DU presented high agreement with IVUS for detection of obstructions >= 50%. The velocity ratio in obstructions >= 2.5 is the best criteria for detection of significant venous outflow obstructions in iliac veins.

Introdução: A espinha bífida tem incidência de 0,5 a 0,8 / 1.000 nascimentos, com mortalidade neonatal ao redor de 33% e sequelas em torno de 65% nos sobreviventes. Em relação ao diagnóstico, a ultrasonografia é capaz de diagnosticar cerca de 80% a 100% dos casos de espinha bífida. Objetivo: Avaliar comparativamente a precisão da ultrasonografia bidimensional e da ultra-sonografia tridimensional em determinar o nível da lesão vertebral (primeira vértebra aberta ) em casos espinha bífida aberta fetal comparada à avaliação pós-natal realizada por exame radiológico da coluna vertebral do recém-nascido. Método: Estudo prospectivo longitudinal analisou fetos com espinha bífida aberta atendidos no Setor de Medicina Fetal da Clínica Obstétrica do HCFMUSP, durante o período compreendido entre os anos de 2004 a 2008. Foi estabelecido o nível da lesão vertebral em 45 fetos por meio de exames ultra-sonográficos bidimensionais e tridimensionais ( dois examinadores em cada método). O nível da lesão no pós-natal foi estabelecido por exame radiológico (radiografia simples) da coluna do recém-nascido, considerado o padrão ouro para sua definição, sendo então comparado ao nível encontrado nos exames ultra-sonográficos bidimensionais e tridimensionais pré-natais. As gestações foram seguidas no ambulatório de pré-natal e o parto programado para correção cirúrgica pós-natal imediata. Resultado: Precisão diagnóstica do nível de lesão da espinha bífida pela ultra-sonografia bidimensional de 47,7 %, elevando-se para 77,7 %, se considerado o erro de até um nível, 87,7 % com até dois níveis e de 100 % com até três níveis, com boa concordância interobservador neste método. Precisão diagnóstica do nível de lesão da espinha bífida pela ultra-sonografia tridimensional de 44,4 %, elevando-se para 80,0 % se considerado o erro de até um nível, 88,8 % com até dois níveis e de 100 % com até três níveis, com boa concordância interobservador neste método. Nos casos em que houveram erro no diagnóstico do nível da lesão, tendência a subestimação do nível da lesão nos dois métodosbidimensional: 55,3% dos casos e tridimensional: 62% dos casos). Conclusões:. Não houve diferença percentual relevante entre a detecção realizada pela ultra-sonografia bidimensional e pela tridimensional, não se demonstrando vantagens no uso da metodologia tridimensional no diagnóstico do nível de lesão nos casos de espinha bífida. Houve têndencia a subestimar o erro em ambas as metodologias. / Introduction: Incidence of spina bifida is about 0.5 to 0.8 per 1,000 births, with neonatal mortality around 33% and handicap in about 65% of survivors. Sonography diagnoses about 80% to 100% of cases. Objective: To evaluate the precision of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional sonography in determining vertebral lesion level (the first open vertebra) in open spina bifida cases compared to postnatal radiological assessment of the newborn. Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study comprising fetuses with open spina bifida attending the Fetal Medicine division of the Obstetrics Department, HCFMUSP, from 2004 to 2008. Vertebral lesion level was established by both two-dimensional and three-dimensional sonography in 45 fetuses (two examiners in each method). Lesion level in the neonatal period was established by radiological assessment (simple X-rays) of the spine, considered as the gold standard. This was compared to the level found in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional prenatal scans. All pregnancies were followed in our hospital prenatally and delivery was scheduled in order to allow immediate postnatal surgical correction. Results: Two-dimensional sonography precisely estimated the spina bifida level in 47.7% of cases. In 77.7% of cases, the estimate error was within one vertebra, in 87.7% up to two vertebrae and in 100% up to three vertebrae, showing a good interobserver agreement. Three-dimensional sonography precisely estimated the lesion level in 44.4 of cases. In 80 % of cases, the estimate error was within one vertebra, in 88.8% up to two vertebrae and in 100% up to three vertebrae, also showing a good interobserver agreement. Whenever an estimate error was observed, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional scans tended to underestimate the true lesion level (55.3% of cases in twodimensional scans and 62% in three-dimensional). Conclusions: No relevant differences between diagnostic performance of two-dimensional and three-dimensional scans were observed. The use of three-dimensional sonography showed no additional benefit in diagnosing the lesion level in cases of spina bífida. Errors in both methods showed a tendency to underestimate the lesion level.

L'objectif de cette thèse était d'explorer de nouvelles applications cardiaques pour l'histotripsie et de développer les outils permettant leur mise en place non-invasive. La thérapie ultrasonore cardiaque est en effet encore assez peu développée aujourd’hui, à cause de la difficulté à traiter un organe en mouvement permanent, et très bien protégé derrière la cage thoracique.Nous avons d'abord montré in vivo, sur un modèle ovin, que l’on pouvait sectionner les cordages mitraux de manière non-invasive ainsi que traiter la sténose aortique calcifiée. Engendrer de la cavitation sur les feuillets valvulaires permet effectivement d’agir à distance sur les calcifications, et de globalement assouplir la valve.Simultanément, nous avons développé un dispositif pour la thérapie cardiaque non invasive, fondé sur le concept de cavité à retournement temporel. Ce dispositif permet l'émission d'impulsions ultrasonores de haute intensité dans un très grand volume d’intérêt. L’on peut ainsi déplacer le point de thérapie en 3 dimensions de manière entièrement électronique, et sans déplacer mécaniquement l’appareil. Après optimisation, ce dispositif a permis de créer des lésions mécaniques bien contrôlées dans une région d'intérêt de 2 000 cm3.Pour faire face au défi que représente la cage thoracique, nous avons développé une méthode de focalisation adaptative et l'avons mise en œuvre dans un prototype 2D du dispositif. Avec cette méthode, nous pouvons non seulement construire un front d'onde ultrasonore adaptatif qui se propage de manière préférentielle à travers les espaces intercostaux, mais grâce aux propriétés des cavités à retournement temporel, nous pouvons également augmenter la pression focale obtenue sur la cible de thérapie.Enfin, pour approfondir ce travail sur la focalisation adaptative, et nous avons considéré le cas de l'imagerie transcrânienne. Pour cette application, nous avons choisi d’utiliser la focalisation par retournement temporel dans le bruit de speckle, pour corriger les aberrations induites par le crâne. En simulations numériques, nous avons pu calculer les modulations de phase et d'amplitude induites par les os et améliorer le contraste et la résolution d'une image B-mode. / The objective of this thesis was to explore new applications for cardiac histotripsy, and to develop the tools making it possible non-invasively. Cardiac ultrasound therapy indeed still remains limited due to the tremendous challenge of treating a constantly and rapidly moving organ, well protected behind the ribcage.We first showed in vivo, on a large animal model, that histotripsy could be used non-invasively to cut mitral chordae, and to treat calcified aortic stenosis in a beating heart. Cavitation on the valve leaflets can indeed locally and remotely act on the calcifications, and globally soften the valve. Simultaneously, we developed a therapeutic device allowing completely non-invasive cardiac shock-wave therapy based on the time reversal cavity concept. In particular, this device allows the emission of high intensity ultrasound pulses, and provides 3D electronical steering of the therapy focal spot in a large volume. After a thorough optimisation process, this device was capable of creating well controlled mechanical lesions over a 2 000 cm3 region of interest. To tackle the challenge of ultrasound propagation through the rib cage, we developed an adaptive focusing method (DORT method through a time reversal cavity), and implemented it in a 2D prototype of the device. With this method, we not only could build an adaptive ultrasonic wavefront propagating preferentially through the intercostal spaces, but due to time reversal cavities properties, we could also increase the peak pressure obtained on target.Finally, we pushed our work on adaptive focusing further, and considered the case of transcranial imaging. For this application, we chose to use the time reversal of speckle noise technique, to correct the aberrations induced by the skull. In numerical simulations, we were able to derive the phase and amplitude modulations induced by the bones, and could improve the contrast and resolution of a B-mode image.

Darbų apžvalgoje nagrinėjami sergamumo skydliaukės vėžiu pokyčiai Lietuvoje 1978 – 2003 metais bei sergamumo sąsajos su diagnostika. Sergamumas skydliaukės vėžiu Lietuvoje 1978-2003 metais didėjo ir vidutinis metinis pokytis vyrams siekė 4,2% (p<0,0001), o moterims - 6,1% (p<0,0001). Standartizuotas vyrų sergamumo rodiklis padidėjo nuo 0,7 atvejo 100 000 gyventojų 1978 metais iki 2,5 atvejo 100 000 gyventojų 2003 metais, o moterų – atitinkamai nuo 1,5 iki 11,4 atvejo 100 000 gyventojų. Mirtingumas nuo skydliaukės vėžio nagrinėjamu laikotarpiu nepakito. Nustatytas papilinės skydliaukės karcinomos padidėjimas 1978 – 2003 metų laikotarpiu. Didžiausią įtaką susirgimo skaičiaus pokyčiams turėjo skydliaukės vėžio atvejai diagnozuoti ankstyvosiose stadijose. Žymų sergamumo skydliaukės vėžiu padidėjimą 2002-2003 metais Lietuvoje galima susieti su pokyčiais skydliaukės mazgų diagnostikoje, tobulesnių ultragarsinių technologijų panaudojimu bei aktyviu ultragarsu kontroliuojamų aspiracinių biopsijų plona adata pritaikymu klinikinėje praktikoje. / The aim of this study is to analyse changes in thyroid cancer incidence trends in Lithuania during the period of 1978–2003 and the relationship between incidence and diagnostic strategies. Annual percentage changes in the age-standardized rates over this period were 4.2% (p<0.0001) and 6.1% (p<0.0001) for men and women, respectively, for all carcinomas combined. During study period the age-standardized incidence rates increased in males from 0.7 to 2.5 cases per 100000 and in females from 1.5 to 11.4 per 100000. Mortality due to thyroid cancer did not change during the period of 1978–2003. By histopathology, number of papillary thyroid carcinoma cases increased in 1998-2003. Also, there was increase in the number of early stages of thyroid cancer. The increase in thyroid cancer incidence in Lithuania seems to be mainly due to the changes in the management of thyroid nodules and increased usage of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in clinical practice.

Thirty-four patients with acute hemispheric ischemic strokes underwent both CT angiography and contrast-enhanced transcranial color-coded duplexsonography (TCCD) to study the effectiveness of the combined noninvasive techniques for evaluation of the circle of Willis. In 3/34 patients, CT angiography and contrast-enhanced TCCD demonstrated middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, in 5 others MCA stenosis. A severe posterior cerebral artery stenosis was missed by CT angiography. In 8 patients, contrast-enhanced TCCD failed because of poor bone windows. In these patients, CT angiography was normal. CT angiography and contrast-enhanced TCCD are complementary noninvasive diagnostic tools. Disagreements between the diagnostic findings of these methods still need further evaluation by digital subtraction angiography. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

An 53 Hündinnen aus dem Patientengut der Klinik für Kleintiere der Universität Leipzig, die mit Umfangsvermehrungen der Mamma vorgestellt und anschließend in der Klinik für Kleintiere operiert wurden, wurde präoperativ eine sonographische Untersuchung der Mamma durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus wurden die Mammarkomplexe von acht tragenden und einer laktierenden Hündin mit dieser Technik untersucht. Ziel war es, Kriterien zur Einschätzung der Dignität der Tumoren mit Hilfe dieser nichtinvasiven Methode zu erarbeiten. Es sollten die Fragen geklärt werden, ob mit Hilfe der hochauflösenden Sonographie eine Aussage über Gut- oder Bösartigkeit eines Herdes möglich ist und ob dabei dieselben Kriterien entscheidend sind, die in der Humanmedizin eine zuverlässige Differenzierung erlauben. Außerdem sollte überprüft werden, welchen Beitrag die farbkodierte Duplexsonographie oder Resistance- und Pulsatilitätsindex zur Charakterisierung von Mammatumoren der Hündin leisten. Die Gesamtzahl der in die Studie eingehenden Komplexe beträgt 114. Die sonographischen Untersuchungen erfolgten mit einem 14 MHz Matrix-Linearschallkopf. Bei 70 der 114 untersuchten Lokalisationen erfolgte zusätzlich zur B-Mode-Untersuchung eine Untersuchung mit der farbkodierten Duplexsonographie. Konnten mit Hilfe dieser Methode Gefäße in der Umfangsvermehrung nachgewiesen werden, wurde in 47 von 70 Fäl-len zusätzlich der PW-Doppler eingesetzt, um Flussspektren aus den dargestellten Gefäßen abzuleiten. Aus diesen wurden Resistance-Index und Pulsatilitätsindex bestimmt. Bei der retrospektiven Auswertung der Grauwertbilder aus der B-Mode-Untersuchung wurde für jeden Komplex die Ausprägung von 12 Parametern beurteilt. Die Bilder aus der farbkodierten Duplexsonographie lieferten zusätzlich Informationen zu Gefäßzahl, Gefäßdurchmesser und Gefäßverteilung innerhalb eines Tumors. Die Exstirpate wurden pathohistologisch untersucht. Die aus der Gewebetypisierung entsprechend der WHO-Klassifikation resultierenden Gruppen sind so klein, dass nur eine deskriptive statistische Auswertung möglich war. Es erfolgte die Zusammenfassung unterschiedlicher Gewebetypen zu den Gruppen der „malignen“ bzw. „benignen“ Tumoren. Für Malignität sprechen eine unregelmäßige Randkontur (32 von 61 malignen, 4 von 48 benignen Lokalisationen), eine Schallverstärkung (36/61 malignen, 9/48 benignen Lokalisationen) oder –auslöschung (8/61 malignen, 0 /48 benignen Lokalisationen) hinter dem Tumor, Verkalkungen (20/61 malignen, 6/48 benignen Lokalisationen) sowie ein unregelmäßiger Durchmesser der Tumorgefäße (25/61 malignen, 12/48 benignen Lokalisationen). Meist gutartig sind Umfangsvermehrungen der Mamma, denen sonographisch eine klare Abgrenzung zum umgebenden Gewebe fehlt (15/61 malignen, 36/48 benignen Lokalisationen). Außerdem solche mit indifferentem retroläsionalem Schallverhalten (17/61 malignen, 39/48 benignen Lokalisationen). Kombiniert man mehrere der Parameter miteinander, ist die resultierende Teilmenge der betreffenden Läsionen kleiner, die Aussagekraft höher. Für Bösartigkeit spricht beispielsweise eine Kombination von Verkalkung und unregelmäßiger Randkontur (13 von 61 malignen, 1 von 48 benignen Lokalisationen), Verkalkung und echodichtem Randsaum („deutlich“ oder „fraglich“; 9/61 malignen, 0/48 benignen Lokalisationen) sowie mittlerer Echodichte und retroläsionaler Schallverstärkung (21/61 malignen, 6/48 benignen Lokalisationen). Für Gutartigkeit sprechen mittlere Echodichte des Tumorzentrums in Kombination mit indifferentem Schallverhalten (13/61 malignen, 33/48 benignen Lokalisationen) sowie regelmäßiger Gefäßdurchmesser bei diffuser Gefäßverteilung (3/36 malignen, 14/29 benignen Lokalisationen). Es konnte dargestellt werden, dass sich mit Hilfe der hochauflösenden B-Mode-Sonographie Kriterien aufzeigen lassen, die tendenziell für Gut- oder Bösartigkeit eines Mammatumors sprechen. Dabei ist es zweckmäßig, mehrere Parameter in die Beurteilung einfließen zu lassen. Auch die farbkodierte Duplexsonographie kann dabei einen Beitrag leisten. Die Ermittlung von Resistance- und Pulsatilitätsindex hingegen erweist sich als nicht sinnvoll. Ein Parameter, welcher in der Humanmedizin eine entscheidende Rolle zur Unterscheidung bösartiger von gutartigen Tumoren der Mamma spielt ist die Randkontur eines Tumors. Dies ist das einzige Kriterium, das auch bei Mammatumoren der Hündin einen diagnostischen Nutzen aufweist. Anhand einzelner sonographischer Parameter ist es nicht möglich, die Dignität eines Tumors vorherzusagen. Die sonographische Untersuchung kann jedoch in einigen Fällen beim Abschätzen der Prognose helfen. / In 53 bitches that underwent surgery because of tumors of the mammary gland at the Department of small animal medicine of the University of Leipzig we carried out a preoperative ultrasonographic examination of the mammary gland. Furthermore eight pregnant and one lactating bitch were examined the same way. We aimed to find out, whether high-resolution ultrasound helps differentiate benign from malignant tumors. Also we wanted to evaluate criteria established for that purpose in human medicine. Use of colour-coded duplex sonography, resistance index and pulsatility index for this question are reassessed too. The total number of mammary complexes examined for this study is 114. A GE Logiq™ 9 with a 14 MHz linear array transducer was used for all examinations. Seventy of the 114 sites of mammary tissue underwent a colour-coded duplex sonography after the B scan. Blood vessels were detectet in 70 of the tumors. In 47 of these sites the PW-Doppler was used to gain flow patterns to achieve resistance- and pulsatility-index. The images were analysed retrospectively. In B scan images lesions were judged by 12 parameters. Additional information about number, diameter and distribution of vessels within a tumor was taken from the images of colour-coded duplex sonography. The excised complexes were evaluated pathohistologically. Only descriptive statistical analysis was possible because the resulting groups were very small after being sorted according to WHO-classification. Therefore the complexes of mammary glands were subsumpted into two groups – „malignant“ and „benign“ tumours. An irregular contour of the tumor (32 of 61 malignant, 4 of 48 benign tumors), signal enhancement (36/61 malignant, 9/48 benign tumors) or total shadowing (8/61 malignant, 0/48 benign tumors) behind the tumor, calcification (20/61 malignant, 6/48 benign tumors) and irregular vessel diameters (25/61 malignant, 12/48 benign tumors) are signs of malignancy. Tumors that miss a clearly detactable borderline (15/61 malignant, 36/48 benign tumors) and tumors with no signal alteration behind the tumor (17/61 malignant, 39/48 benign tumors) are benign more often. The combination of parameters reduces the number of adequate tumors and rises significance. A tumor showing an irregular contour and calcification (13/61 malignant, 1/48 benign tumors) is more likely to be malignant as well as a tumor of medium echodensity showing signal enhancement (21/61 malignant, 6/48 benign tumors). Tumors of medium echodensity without signal alteration behind the lesion (13/61 malignant, 33/48 benign tumors) and tumors with diffusely distributed vessels of regular diameter (3/36 malignant, 14/29 benign tumors) are more likely to be benign. It could be shown that high-resolution B scan parameters can help differentiate between malignant and benign tumors of the mammary gland, especially if they are used in combination with each other. Parameters from colour-coded duplex sonography can increase predicting value of B scan examinations too but there is no use of analysing resistance index or pulsatility index. One of the criteria established in human medicine ist the contour of a tumor. This parameter is of diagnostic use in mammary tumours of the bitch too. It is not possible to clearly predict the character of a tumor of the mammary gland of a bitch by only a few parameters based on a sonogram but sonographic examination can be helpful for assessing prognosis sometimes.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging non-invasive thermal ablative modality that can be utilised for the treatment of solid organ tumours, including liver cancer. Acoustic cavitation is a phenomenon that can occur during HIFU and its presence can enhance heating rates. One major limitation of thermal ablative techniques in general, such as radiofrequency and microwave ablation, is the heat sink effect imparted by large vasculature. Thermal advection from blood flow in vessels &ge; 3 - 4 mm in diameter has been shown to significantly reduce heating rates and peak temperatures in the target tissue, potentially leading to treatment failure. With regards to HIFU therapy, a clearer understanding is required of the effects of blood flow on heating, cavitation and thermal tissue necrosis, which is the treatment endpoint in clinical thermal ablation. Therefore, the overall aim of this thesis project was to elucidate the effects of blood flow on HIFU-induced heating, cavitation and histological assessment of thermal ablation. A unique isolated, perfused porcine liver model was used in order to provide a relevant test bed, with physiological and anatomical characteristics similar to the in vivo human liver. The normothermic liver perfusion device used in all studies presented in this work can keep an organ alive in a functional state ex vivo for in excess of 72 hours. A further advantage of the liver perfusion device was that it allowed blood flow to be stopped completely and resumed rapidly, allowing studies to be conducted under zero flow conditions. A therapeutic HIFU system was used in order to deliver HIFU therapy to regions of hepatic parenchyma adjacent (&le; 3 mm) to large (&ge; 5 mm) blood vessels or away from vasculature (&ge; 1 cm) at either 1.06 MHz or at 3.18 MHz. Cavitation events during HIFU therapy were spatio-temporally monitored using a previously developed passive acoustic mapping (PAM) technique. The cavitation threshold at each frequency was determined through assessment of acoustic emissions acquired through PAM during HIFU exposure at a range of acoustic pressures. Real time thermal data during HIFU therapy were obtained using an implantable 400 &mu;m thermocouple, aligned with the HIFU focus, in order to assess the effect of large vessel blood flow on peak tissue temperatures. Thermal data were obtained at 1.06 MHz, in the presence of acoustic cavitation and at 3.18 MHz, in the absence of cavitation, both in the presence and complete absence of blood flow. Finally, histological assessment of cell viability and cell death was performed in order to determine whether any heat sink effect could be overcome, with the achievement of complete tissue necrosis in treatment regions directly adjacent to large vasculature. This work demonstrated for the first time that in perfused, functional liver tissue, the presence of large vasculature and physiological blood flow does not significantly affect ablative HIFU therapy, both in terms of peak focal tissue temperatures attained and histological evidence of complete tissue necrosis. Therefore, HIFU may be superior to other ablative modalities in treating tumours in tissue regions adjacent to major vascular structures, but further work needs to be performed to correlate the experimental findings with clinical outcomes.