BACKGROUND: Routine B-mode ultrasound examination (rB-US) is a current standard for the assessment of the transplanted kidney(KTx) in the early post-operative period. The alteration of perirenal hematoma (PH) echostructure over time limits their detectability and size assessment with rB-US. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CE-US) in diagnosing PH of KTx in the early post-operative period. METHOD: Routine B-US and CE-US of KTx, performed in 102 patients in the early post-operative period, were analyzed. CE-US was performed after intravenous administration of 2.4 mL of sulfur hexafluoride solution. The data were analyzed with respect to the occurrence and thickness of PH. RESULT: The difference in echogenicity between PH and kidney parenchyma was modest in rB-US (mean of 5.7 dB). However, in CE-US, the difference in echogenicity was significantly increased (mean of 31.4 dB). Routine B-US did not allow PH to be recognized in 18 patients. The application of CE-US results in a twofold increase in PH detection when compared with rB-US (33.3% vs. 15.7%). CONCLUSION: US-CE examination is a valuable method for detection and assessment of PH size. Compared with rB-US, this technique may substantially increase the detectability of hemorrhagic complications in the direct post-operative period.
BACKGROUND: Routine B-mode ultrasound examination (rB-US) is a current standard for the assessment of the transplanted kidney(KTx) in the early post-operative period. The alteration of perirenal hematoma (PH) echostructure over time limits their detectability and size assessment with rB-US. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CE-US) in diagnosing PH of KTx in the early post-operative period. METHOD: Routine B-US and CE-US of KTx, performed in 102 patients in the early post-operative period, were analyzed. CE-US was performed after intravenous administration of 2.4 mL of sulfur hexafluoride solution. The data were analyzed with respect to the occurrence and thickness of PH. RESULT: The difference in echogenicity between PH and kidney parenchyma was modest in rB-US (mean of 5.7 dB). However, in CE-US, the difference in echogenicity was significantly increased (mean of 31.4 dB). Routine B-US did not allow PH to be recognized in 18 patients. The application of CE-US results in a twofold increase in PH detection when compared with rB-US (33.3% vs. 15.7%). CONCLUSION: US-CE examination is a valuable method for detection and assessment of PH size. Compared with rB-US, this technique may substantially increase the detectability of hemorrhagic complications in the direct post-operative period.
Authors: Sara Álvarez Rodríguez; Vital Hevia Palacios; Enrique Sanz Mayayo; Victoria Gómez Dos Santos; Víctor Díez Nicolás; María Dolores Sánchez Gallego; Javier Lorca Álvaro; Francisco Javier Burgos Revilla Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2017-09-15