Clinical trial on the accuracy of a freehand and sensor-independent three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound system measuring diameters, volumes and vascularity of malignant primaries of the neck.

AIM: Diameters, volumes and vascularity of malignant primaries of the neck are of substantial importance for staging and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of a newly developed freehand and sensor-independent three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound system (3D PDUS) in the assessment of these parameters.
METHOD: 24 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the neck underwent conventional ultrasound in B- and power Doppler-mode (US), 3D PDUS, and computed tomography (CT). Diameters (sagittal, longitudinal, and transverse) and volumes of the tumours were correlated with hand-segmentated CT images, whereas tumour vascularity was compared with US.
RESULTS: 3D PDUS and CT correlated highly regarding diameters and volumes (correlation coefficients r = 0.98/P < 0.001 and r = 0.98/P < 0.001, respectively). 3D PDUS and US correlated highly regarding vascularity (r = 0.92/P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Although 3D PDUS is based on a freehand and sensorless data acquisition, it appears to be as accurate as CT or US for measurements of diameters, volumes and vascularity of neck malignancies. In spite of the excellent results it has to be mentioned that this technique needs a lot of training and its general use has to be employed with caution.