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Introduction and Objectives. The screening based on PSA has led to an important rate of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of clinically insignificant prostate cancer. On the other hand, the systematic ultrasound guided prostate biopsy has a rate of false negative results up to 40%. New methods of assisting prostate biopsy have emerged as a result of the development of the MRI evaluation of patients with prostate cancer. The objective of our study was to assess the initial results of MRI-TRUS fusion guided prostate biopsy in our department and to perform a short review of the recent literature on the subject. Materials and methods. We included in the present study a number of 43 patients under 70 years, with suspicion for prostate cancer either because of PSA, or an abnormal digital rectal examination. All patients underwent multiparametric MRI and if the radiologist identified a lesion with PIRADS score higher than 3, they underwent MRI-transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Results. Multiparametric MRI identified a lesion with a PIRADS score of at least 3 in 44.18% of cases. The mean age was similar between the patients with or without suspicious lesions (59.5 vs 56.9 years, p=0.27), butthe mean PSA was significantly higher for patients with suspicious lesions (8.22vs 4.44 ng/ml,p=0.04). At MRI-TRUS fusion guided biopsy, prostate cancer was identified in 6 patients (all with PIRADS score 4 or 5). The mean percentages of positive biopsy cores out of total/systematic/MRI-guided number of cores were 30.16%, 22.18% and 75%, respectively. Four out of six patients were diagnosed with clinically significant disease. Conclusions. MRI visible lesions with PIRADS 4 and 5 correlate with the presence of significant disease. The MRI-TRUS guided fusion biopsy can better detect patients with aggressive PCa or disease progression during active surveillance, thus improving the risk stratification and treatment planning. On the other hand, by identifying low-risk patients MRITRUS fusion biopsy can be a factor to overcome the high rate of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of indolent PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Viscosity is an important mechanical property directly linked to the shear wave dispersion within tissues. The purpose of this study was to establish the normal viscosity value of the parotid gland (PG) and submandibular gland (SMG) in a group of healthy subjects, using the novel Viscosity Plane-wave UltraSound (ViPLUS) technique, and to assess its potential dependence on gender and age., Material and Methods: The study group included a total of 49 healthy volunteers (median age 31, 65% females) prospectively examined between February 2021 and March 2021. The viscosity of both PG and SMG was measured using the new Aixplorer MACH 30 ultrasound system (SuperSonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) equipped with a curvilinear C6-1X transducer. The mean value of three valid measurements was considered (quantified in Pa.s)., Results: The mean viscosity value for the PG was 2.13±0.23 Pa.s, significantly lower than the mean viscosity value of the SMG 2.44±0.35 Pa.s (p<0.0001). A negative low correlation between SMG viscosity and age was found (rho=-0.38, p=0.006). Viscosity values of the SMG were significantly lower in the age group between 35-77 years (2.12±0.35 Pa.s) than in the age groups 25-34 years (2.52±0.36 Pa.s), and 20-24 years (2.53±0.24 Pa.s), respectively (p<0.05). Viscosity values of both salivary glands did not differ significantly between gender groups., Conclusions: Supersonic ViPLUS represents an innovative and useful non-invasive method to assess the viscosity of the parotid and submandibular glands. Age is a potential confounding factor in the evaluation of normal SMG viscosity.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutations, US features, and histopathologic findings of breast cancer in mutation carriers compared to non-carrier patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, we identified 264 patients with breast cancer and multigene panel testing admitted to our clinic from January 2018 to December 2020. Patient data US findings, US assessment of the axilla, multigene panel tests, histopathology, and immunochemistry reports were reviewed according to the BI-RADS lexicon. Results: The study population was comprised of 40% pathogenic mutation carriers (BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, ATM, PALB, TP 53, NBN, MSH, BRIP 1 genes) and 60% mutation-negative patients. The mean patient age was 43.5 years in the carrier group and 44 years in the negative group. Carrier patients developed breast cancer with benign morphology (acoustic enhancement, soft elastography appearance) compared to non-carriers (p < 0.05). A tendency towards specific US features was observed for each mutation. BRCA1 carriers were associated with BC with microlobulated margins, hyperechoic rim, and soft elastography appearance (p < 0.05). Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors were associated with BRCA1, TP53, and RAD mutations, while BRCA2 and CHEK2 were associated with ER-positive tumors. Conclusions: Patients with pathogenic mutations may exhibit BC with benign US features compared to negative, non-carrier patients. BRCA1, TP53, and RAD carriers account for up to one third of the ER tumors from the carrier group. Axillary US performed worse in depicting involved lymph nodes in carrier patients, compared to negative patients.

Aim: To describe the CT findings in eight patients with left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) in whom the left renal artery presented a precaval course (pLRA)., Materials and Methods: We searched the teaching files of six radiology departments for patients with pLRAs. Eight patients were found, and the available imaging studies and clinical histories were reviewed. Associated vascular and renal anomalies were noted., Results: No patient had been examined for problems related to the vascular anomaly found. Four had a double IVC and two a solitary left IVC; in all, the left-sided IVCs had hemiazygos continuation. One patient had situs viscerum inversus. In one case, there was a left kidney in left iliac fossa., Conclusion: Although rare and probably overlooked, a pLRAs can be encountered in patients with situs viscerum inversus or presenting a left-sided IVC with hemiazygos continuation. These vessels can cause technical problems during surgery at the left renal hilum and should be specifically searched for in patients with vascular anomalies.

Objective: To describe ultrasound (US) and pathologic findings in 11 patients with multiple, synchronous lesions of different histology within the same testis., Materials and Methods: We reviewed US and pathologic findings in 11 patients with multiple, synchronous lesions of different histology within the same testis. Lesions were classified as separate or adjacent one to another and attempt was made to predict tumor type on their US textures. Pathologic review assessed presence of normal tissue between adjacent lesions and of Germ Cell Neoplasia In Situ in surrounding parenchyma. Nine cases were from files specifically dedicated to testicular tumors and estimated prevalence was calculated., Results: Two nodules were seen in nine patients and 3 in remaining two. Nine had tumors of different histology; two had one malignancy and one focal benign lesion. Germ Cell Neoplasia In Situ was seen in 7/11 cases. In dedicated archives, these lesions had 1.83% prevalence., Conclusion: Multiple focal lesions identified at imaging within the testis are not always of the same histology. This can be suspected in some cases basing on US texture. Recognition that lesions are multiple and an indication of their locations within the testis is the most important role of imaging and may help pathologists correctly sample the specimen to establish nature of each of them. Presence of multiple lesions is regarded as a contraindication to testicular sparing surgery. In two of our patients, one lesion was benign. Then, when the procedure is indicated all lesions have to be sampled and assessed by pathologists before deciding between conservative or radical technique., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is a process whereby the application of a force induces bone resorption on the pressure side and bone apposition on the tension side of the lamina dura. However, only limited data are available on the in vivo behavior of the periodontal tissues. The aim of this study was to assess the changes of periodontal tissues, induced by the orthodontic canine retraction, using 40 MHz ultrasonography., Methods: Ultrasonographic evaluation of periodontal tissues was conducted in 5 patients with indication for orthodontic treatment. The upper first premolars were extracted bilaterally due to severe crowding, and the canines were distalized using elastomeric chain with a net force of 100 cN. Ultrasonographic scans (US scans) were performed before, during and after retraction, in three distinct areas of the canines buccal surface: mesial, middle and distal. The reference point was the bracket, which appeared hyperechoic on the US scan. Four different dimensions were obtained: D1 (depth of the sulcus), D2 (thickness of the gingiva), D3 (length of the supracrestal fibers), D4 (width of periodontal space)., Results: An increase of D1 was observed in all three areas of the periodontium, during orthodontic treatment. D3 was strongly correlated before and immediately after force delivery only for the mesial area (r=0.828, p<0.05). In total, 228 variables were statistically analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients, in order to demonstrate the relationship between periodontal findings during orthodontic tooth movement., Conclusion: High-resolution ultrasonography has the capability to obviate changes in periodontal ligament space and free gingiva during orthodontic tooth movement.

Albumin is the most abundant plasmatic protein. It is only produced by the liver and the full extent of its metabolic functions is not known in detail. One of the main roles assigned to albumin is as an indicator of malnutrition. There are many factors, in addition to nutrition, that influence levels of albumin in plasma. The main aim of this review is to assess the clinical significance of albumin in elderly people in the community, in hospital and in care homes. Following the review, it can be stated that age is not a cause of hypoalbuminemia. Albumin is a good marker of nutritional status in clinically stable people. Significant loss of muscle mass has been observed in elderly people with low albumin levels. Hypoalbuminemia is a mortality prognostic factor in elderly people, whether they live in the community or they are in hospital or institutionalized. Low levels of albumin are associated to worse recovery following acute pathologies. Inflammatory state and, particularly, high concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-alpha, are two of the main influencing factors of hypoalbuminemia. In elderly patients with a hip fracture, albumin levels below 38 g/L are associated to a higher risk of post-surgery complications, especially infections. Further research is needed on the impact of nutritional intervention upon albumin levels and on the outcomes in elderly people in the community, in hospital and in care., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of the study described here was to evaluate the usefulness of the elastographic strain ratio in the assessment of liver changes in an experimental animal setting and the hepatoprotective effects of chitosan. Ultrasonography and Strain Ratio calculation were performed before and after bile duct ligation (BDL) in three groups of Wistar albino rats (n = 10 animals per group): (i) rats subjected to bile duct ligation only; (ii) rats subjected to bile duct ligation and administered chitosan for 14 d; (iii) rats subjected to bile duct ligation and administered chitosan for 7 d. The results were compared with the laboratory data and pathologic findings. Strain ratios revealed an increase in liver stiffness after bile duct ligation (p < 0.05), except in the group with chitosan administered for 7 d, and agreed with laboratory and pathology data. In conclusion, strain ratio can be used as an experimental research instrument in the assessment of liver response to injury. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on the usefulness of the sonoelastographic liver-to-kidney strain ratio in assessing the effects of experimentally induced liver lesions., (Copyright © 2015 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a hepatic disease first described in 1958. The existence of an accessible and minimally invasive imagistic investigation to establish the diagnosis in a large number of cases would be desirable, especially because once diagnosed, the disease needs no treatment. We present the case of a young woman with long term use of oral contraceptives in which the diagnosis of FNH was established at a routine ultrasound. Evolution of disease during the pregnancy and the atypical imagistic aspect of liver lesions raised many problems of differential diagnosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility to use high-frequency ultrasound imaging for the assessment of periodontal structures., Material and Methods: A commercially available ultrasound scanner (Ultrasonix SonoTouch) with a linear 1.5 cm footprint, wideband 8 - 40MHz transducer was used, with external transcutaneous approach. A number of 4 patients with healthy periodontal tissue were evaluated. All 4 bicuspids of the lower jaw were imaged from buccal incidence. A fixed landmark (no.20 gutta-percha point) was placed in the gingival sulcus, in order to measure the following dimensions: gingival sulcus depth (D1), free gingival thickness (D2), width of the periodontal space in the most coronal position, length of the supracrestal fiber (D3), height of the clinical crown (D4) and height of the anatomic crown (D5)., Results: The 40MHz ultrasound image revealed the cortical bone, tooth crown, dental root, fixed mucosa and the gingival sulcus. The findings for D1 varied between 1.2-1.86 mm and for D2 between 0.65-1.34 mm. The smallest variation of the values was found for D3: 0.21-0.39. The mean value for the difference between D5 and D4 was 1.79 mm., Conclusions: Ultrasonography provides a highly accurate and noninvasive technique for periodontal assessment. Future studies will be carried out in order to assess the correlation between clinical examination, radiology, and ultrasound measurements in patients with periodontal diseases.

Purpose: To describe the sonoelastographic appearance of breast cysts (simple, complicated-cysts with sedimentation and complex-cysts with internal solid parts). To assess the influence of sonoelastography on the BI-RADS classification of complicated cysts., Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted and all cysts diagnosed by the same radiologist between May 2007 and July 2008 in our breast unit were included. Each lesion was assessed according to BI-RADS and the Tsukuba elasticity score using a Hitachi 8500 US device. Cytology or histopathology was obtained for complicated and complex cysts., Results: 49 simple, 43 complicated and 14 complex cysts were detected. The elasticity patterns were divided into 4 categories: typical BGR (blue-green-red) pattern, appearance similar to that described for solid. lesions, variants of BGR, an inverse score of 3. The BGR pattern was predominant in breast cysts. Atypical elasticity patterns were mostly associated with complicated and complex cysts. BI-RADS classification of complicated cysts before and after elastography showed a statistically significant difference in terms of final category assessment (most of the complicated cysts were downgraded to BI-RADS 2 after elastography)., Conclusion: Being aware of the wide spectrum of elastographic patterns of breast cysts and considering elastography when assessing the BI-RADS category of complicated cysts may lead radiologists to better patient management., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of real-time sonoelastography in the differential diagnosis of salivary gland tumors., Subjects and Methods: Between 2007 and 2010, 74 salivary gland tumors were examined by ultrasound and sonoelastography in 66 patients. Lesions were graded according to a 4-point elastography score. Surgical excision and histopathologic examination were performed in all cases. The difference in elastographic score between benign and malignant masses and that between pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors were evaluated., Results: Of the 74 salivary tumors, 63 were located in the parotid, and 11 were in the submandibular gland. There were 18 malignant and 56 benign tumors. The mean (± SD) elastographic score was 2.58 ± 0.87 for pleomorphic adenomas, 2.15 ± 0.80 for Warthin tumors, 2.00 ± 0.57 for other benign tumors, and 2.94 ± 0.87 for malignant tumors. For benign tumors overall, the mean elastographic score was 2.41 ± 0.87. The difference in elastographic score between benign and malignant tumors overall was statistically significant (p < 0.05), but the difference between malignant tumors and pleomorphic adenomas and that between Warthin tumors and pleomorphic adenomas were not statistically significant. Using cutoff values between scores 2 and 3 and scores 3 and 4, there was no statistically significant difference between benign and malignant tumors., Conclusion: Although this study revealed a difference in elastographic score between benign and malignant tumors, detailed analysis did not provide consistent results. Consequently, real-time sonoelastography appears to be a limited technique in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant salivary masses.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of technical factors and/or lesion characteristics on the final elastographic score in solid breast nodules., Materials and Methods: Patients with solid breast masses examined between May 2007 and May 2008 in the Radiology Department of Cluj District University Hospital were included in the study. All lesions were examined with conventional ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound and sonoelastography, according to a preset protocol. The influence of the following factors on the elastographic score was evaluated: type of section (sagittal versus transverse); size of region of interest (small versus large); amplitude and frequency of movement; initial compression (light versus strong); angulation (perpendicular versus angulated transducer); characteristics of the lesion (size and location). The reference diagnosis was the histopathology diagnosis and, in twenty cases, short-term follow-up., Results: Ninety-two patients with a mean age of 48.11 years and 101 breast nodules were included in the study. The overall sensitivity and specificity for elastography were 79 % [68-88 %] and 79 % [65 - 89 %], respectively, with a negative predictive value of 74 % [60-85 %] and a positive predictive value of 84 % [72-91 %]. The following factors did not influence the elastographic score: type of section (scores on transverse and longitudinal section, Z = -0.641, p = 0.552); the amplitude and frequency of movements during the elastographic examination (Cochran's Q concordance = 0.706, p = 0.872); strong initial compression in the case of benign nodules (Z = 0.000, p = 1.000); size of the lesions. Of the elastographically benign nodules, 9 were false negative and of the 46 elastographically malignant nodules, 12 were false positive. The following factors influenced the elastographic scores: size of the region of interest (the scores were significantly different when small or large region of interest was used, Z = -0.671, p < 0.0001); transducer angulation (Z = -5.42, p < 0.0001); strong initial compression in the case of malignant nodules (Z = -6.044, p < 0.0001) and the location of the mass in the vicinity of the chest wall., Conclusion: The most important factors that influence the final elastographic score, leading to false negative results, are the size of the region of interest, the initial compression and angulation of the transducer, while the frequency and amplitude of movement during the examination proved to be of no importance as long as the images were obtained within a range of assessment usefulness. Changing the scanning parameters never led to false positive results in the case of malignant breast masses., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

This paper aims to present our experience of 7 cases of spastic children, using sonoelastography in assessing the muscle spasticity: the relaxed muscle structures appear mostly soft (green-yellow-red), while contracted or degenerated muscle fibers appear hard (blue). Using sonoelastographic findings we established the proper place for injecting the botulinum toxin (20 U/kg Dysport) into the affected muscle. The result was a precise, guided injection, with positive, therapeutic results. It is important consider several factors that can influence the evolution of the case: gray scale ultrasound appearance of the muscle, the patient age, the dosage and the fractionation of toxin.

Arterio-venous vascular malformations (AVM) rarely occur in craniofacial bones. The most frequent location has been reported in the mandible. The first clinical evidence of the lesions can be a fatal hemorrhage, occurring spontaneously or subsequent to dental therapy. Lack of knowledge about these lesions among specialists dealing with the oral and maxillofacial regions can lead to fatal complications. The study presents the successful multidisciplinary management of two cases of mandibular AVM using embolization, sclerotherapy and bone reconstruction, a major challenge owing to the substantial risk of morbidity, recurrence by recanalization and revascularization, neurologic deficits and mortality. There were no complications over a follow-up period of 12 years.

The purpose of this study was to point out a case with orbital venous abnormalities at the left eye, associated with varices of the legs. The clinical picture of this case was: intermittent exophthalmos, venous malformations at the level of the lids and episclera, elevated ocular pressure. All this signs reveal an abnormality at the level of venous wall, indicating a constitutional weakness of the venous system. The case was investigated by imagistic methods: ultrasound examination, Doppler -ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. According to the facts offered by clinical and imagistic investigation this case can be included into the first type of orbital varices, associated with secondary glaucoma provoked by an elevated episcleral venous pressure.

The purpose of this study was to present the actual performances of the imagistic techniques for the complete investigation of secondary glaucoma. For this aim there were selected patients from the Ophthalmologic Clinic Cluj-Napoca. They have been submitted to ultrasound investigations, fluorescein angiography and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Ultrasound techniques: A-scan, B-scan and Doppler allow to track and discriminate the ocular and orbital diseases which can offer the bases of correct diagnosis in secondary glaucoma. The color Doppler assures a good visualization of neovascularization, tumoral vascularization, arterio-venous abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging completes the data obtained by ultrasound and fluorescein angiographique techniques. The imagistic techniques associated with the clinical features offer the bases of the diagnostic and proper therapy in secondary glaucoma.