Dynamic flow US, color Doppler US, and power Doppler US in the assessment of vessel signals of thoracic lesions abutting pulsatile organs.
OBJECTIVE
Dynamic flow ultrasound (DFUS) is a new color Doppler imaging method with better B-mode imaging and fewer blooming effects and color noises. This study was designed to compare the imaging quality of vessel signals in thoracic lesions using DFUS, color Doppler US (CDUS), and power Doppler US (PDUS).


METHODS
Thirty-four patients with thoracic lesions abutting pulsatile organs [heart (n = 13), aorta (n = 14) and pulmonary artery (n = 7)] and undergoing complete chest US examinations were included to assess the imaging quality about vessel signals, blooming effect, color noise, and the influence of decision in needle biopsy between different US modes.


RESULTS
Our results showed that DFUS, CDUS, and PDUS could all demonstrate the vessel signals clearly (all P > .05). However, when focusing on the blooming effect and color noise, DFUS showed the more superior imaging quality than CDUS and PDUS (all P < or = .001); and acceptable blooming effects/color noise were found with 100% (34/34)/97% (33/34), 35% (12/34)/68% (23/34), and 26% (9/34)/38% (13/34) in DFUS, CDUS, and PDUS, respectively. Especially, in the assessment of decision making for percutaneous needle biopsy, DFUS had the less influence than CDUS and PDUS (3% [1/33] versus 29% [10/34] and 3% [1/33] versus 38% [13/34], both P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that DFUS has a clearly more superior imaging quality than CDUS and PDUS in demonstrating the vessel signals of thoracic lesions, with less blooming effect and color noise.
Hsu
Wu-Huei
WH
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung, Taiwan. hsuwh@www.cmuh.org.tw
Tu
Chih-Yen
CY
Chen
Hung-Jen
HJ
Li
Chien-Te
CT
Yu
Yang-Hao
YH
Hang
Liang-Wen
LW
Chiu
Kuo-Liang
KL
Hsia
Te-Chun
TC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016477:Artifacts; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003657:Decision Making; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*