title: Novel sluggish speed signs on ultrasound is indicative of hemangiomas.
abstract: Background Hemangiomas are sometimes difficult to diagnose with current techniques. Sluggish speed signs (SSS) are a phenomenon that: (i) cannot be depicted as Doppler flow on Doppler ultrasound; (ii) can be observed as fluid movements on Doppler ultrasound; and (iii) cannot be depicted as waveforms on pulse Doppler mode. We hypothesized that SSS could be diagnostic indicators for hemangiomas. Purpose To evaluate whether ultrasound findings, in particular those relating to SSS, are a reliable tool for detecting hemangiomas compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the gold standard for hemangioma diagnosis: pathological examination by biopsy or after surgical resection. Material and Methods Totally, 105 patients (mean age, 44.9 years) with soft-tissue tumors underwent MRI and ultrasound examination before biopsy or tumor resection. Ultrasound findings were compared with MRI as well as pathological findings, which were used as reference. Results Hemangiomas were identified in 16 (6.25%) of the 105 patients. On MRI, flow voids showed sensitivity and specificity values of 81.3% and 96.6%, respectively. On ultrasound examination, SSS was the only finding to show equally high sensitivity (93.8%) and specificity (96.6%) for diagnosing hemangiomas. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic capabilities between these two parameters ( P = 0.479). Conclusion SSS showed a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing hemangiomas and therefore are useful diagnostic tools to supplement MRI.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Integrated Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuta
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimose
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Integrated Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Integrated Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Integrated Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical & Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hemangioma; blood flow velocity; diagnosis; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); ultrasonography