title: [Imaging of the abdominal wall: combination of tissue-harmonic-imaging and extended field-of-view sonography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the combined use of extended field-of-view sonography and tissue harmonic imaging (THI) for assessment of the abdominal wall.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 32 patients (25 patients without and 7 patients with abdominal wall pathologies) extended field-of-view sonography of the abdominal wall was performed with and without THI using a 7.5 MHz ultrasound transducer. Images with a scan length of 60 cm were acquired above and below the arcuate line. The images were independently assessed by two observers regarding visibility of the anatomic structures and delineation of pathological changes using a 4-point grading scale. Furthermore, the influence of the extent of the subcutaneous fat on the image quality was assessed. For statistical analysis, kappa coefficients, Fisher"s exact test and a repeated measurement analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients, delineation of the abdominal wall was possible with diagnostic image quality. Abdominal wall pathologies were concurrently diagnosed for extended field-of-view sonography with and without utilization of THI. Image quality was rated better with THI when compared to extended field-of-view B-Mode sonography. In comparison to extended field-of-view B-Mode sonography, the agreement between both readers regarding image quality was markedly improved using extended field-of-view sonography in combination with THI. With increasing thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer, image quality was rated significantly better using THI than B-Mode ultrasound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined use of extended field-of-view sonography and THI improves image quality and documentation of ultrasound examinations. Especially in obese patients, the use of THI is advantageous. Therefore, abdominal wall ultrasound gains additional value in the preoperative planning.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für radiologische Diagnostik, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen. mahnken@rad.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahnken
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Krombach
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hohl
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heussen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Guenther
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*