Benefits of tissue harmonic imaging in the evaluation of abdominal and pelvic lesions.
BACKGROUND
We compared tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and conventional ultrasonography to determine whether THI improves image quality and facilitates lesion characterization.


METHODS
Eighty-nine various abdominal or pelvic lesions in 71 patients(34 men and 37 women; age range = 3-90 years, median age = 52 years) were evaluated with conventional ultrasonography and THI. Examinations were performed with frequencies of 2-5 MHz. All the images were stored on a hard disk and evaluated separately by three radiologists.


RESULTS
According to the interpreters, THI improved overall image quality in 67 (74%) to 76 (84%) and lesion characterization in 28 (31%) to 36 (40%) of 89 lesions when compared with conventional ultrasonography. All three observers agreed that image quality and lesion characterization were improved in 62% and 17% of the lesions, respectively. Lesion groups containing five or more lesions were compared for any difference of improvement in overall image quality and lesion characterization. For overall image quality, a significant difference was found ( p < 0.05). For lesion characterization, there was no significant difference between groups ( p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
THI improved overall image quality and lesion characterization.
Yücel
C
C
Department of Radiology, Gazi University School of Medicine, 06510 Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey.
Ozdemir
H
H
Aşik
E
E
Oner
Y
Y
Işik
S
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods