title: Initial Experience Performing Percutaneous Ultrasound Examination with Real-Time Virtual Sonography with Color Display.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report the efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound (US) examination using a novel real-time virtual sonography (RVS) method that collates multiple Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data sources and displays reference images in color.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 7 patients with 9 hepatocellular carcinomas were evaluated. Using the SYNAPSE VINCENT volume analyzer, DICOM data of the portal vein, hepatic vein, tumor, and hepatic segment were isolated from contrast-enhanced computed tomography DICOM data. Each portion of DICOM data was uploaded into an US scanner (HI VISION Ascendus, Hitachi Aloka Medical Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and unified on a US platform to create a single reference image. Each uploaded portion of DICOM data was assigned a different color. Further, conventional RVS was performed using this information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximal tumoral diameter ranged from 6.4 to 15 mm (mean ± SD, 11.0 ± 2.8). DICOM data could be isolated, enabling the display of color RVS in all patients. Color RVS facilitated superior visibility compared with conventional grayscale RVS and facilitated the comprehension of spatial positioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RVS with color display demonstrates utility in increasing operator comprehension of spatial and positional relationships during percutaneous US examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kinki University, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Turuyo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arasawa
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izuta
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: Mitsunari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibatoge
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000378:metabolism; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012015:Reference Standards; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media