title: Determination of optimal imaging mode for ultrasonographic detection of subdermal contraceptive rods: comparison of spatial compound, conventional, and tissue harmonic imaging methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine which mode of ultrasonography (US), among the conventional, spatial compound, and tissue-harmonic methods, exhibits the best performance for the detection of Implanon® with respect to generation of posterior acoustic shadowing (PAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 patients, referred for localization of impalpable Implanon®, underwent US, using the three modes with default settings (i.e., wide focal zone). Representative transverse images of the rods, according to each mode for all patients, were obtained. The resulting 63 images were reviewed by four observers. The observers provided a confidence score for the presence of PAS, using a five-point scale ranging from 1 (definitely absent) to 5 (definitely present), with scores of 4 or 5 for PAS being considered as detection. The average scores of PAS, obtained from the three different modes for each observer, were compared using one-way repeated measure ANOVA. The detection rates were compared using a weighted least square method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically, the tissue harmonic mode was significantly superior to the other two modes, when comparing the average scores of PAS for all observers (p < 0.00-1). The detection rate was also highest for the tissue harmonic mode (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue harmonic mode in uS appears to be the most suitable in detecting subdermal contraceptive implant rods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135-720, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Ho-Taek
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jin-Suck
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Choon-Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jeong Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Jeong Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ah Hyun
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yaena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001132:Arm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D017135:Desogestrel; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; C044815:etonogestrel; D017135:Desogestrel