Rofo 2017; 189(12): 1161-1167
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-112249
Pediatric Radiology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Comparison of B-Mode with B-Flow Sonography for the Evaluation of Femoral Arteries in Infants

Vergleich von B-Bild und B-Flow Sonografie zur Evaluation der Femoralarterien bei Säuglingen
Michael Groth
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Division of Pediatric Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Elena Dammann
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Division of Pediatric Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Florian Arndt
2   University Heart Center Hamburg, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Marielle Ernst
3   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Jochen Herrmann
1   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Division of Pediatric Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

02 October 2016

17 May 2017

Publication Date:
06 July 2017 (online)

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate femoral arteries (FAs) in infants in the context of catheter angiography with B-mode (BMS) and B-flow sonography (BFS) and to compare both methods for vessel delineation and reliability of vessel diameter measurements.

Methods 21 consecutive infants who underwent ultrasound for the evaluation of FAs before or after cardiac catheterization were retrospectively included in this study. The diameter of the FAs and the maximum length of the vessel section displayed on a single ultrasound plane were recorded by two radiologists for BMS and BFS. The visual image quality was rated by one observer. Statistics included intraclass correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman analysis, Fisher´s exact test and t-test.

Results The intraobserver as well as interobserver correlation was excellent for BMS (0.7922 and 0.6521) and BFS (0.8094 and 0.7637). The Bland-Altman analysis revealed limits of agreement for BMS between +/–0.73 mm (intraobserver) and +/–0.55 mm (interobserver) and for BFS between +/–0.83 mm (intraobserver) and +/–0.7 mm (interobserver). BFS allowed visualization of a longer stretch of the FA than BMS (length 3.54 +/–0.85 vs. 2.21 +/–0.9 cm, p < 0.0001). The image quality was significantly higher for BFS (p = 0.0043).

Conclusion Since BFS shows excellent reproducibility for vessel measurements and superior image quality in infants, if available, BFS should be included in standard protocols when realistic measurements are required.

Key Points

  • B-flow sonography offers high image quality for the evaluation of femoral arteries.

  • Femoral artery diameter measurements performed with B-flow sonography show excellent reproducibility.

  • If available, additional B-flow sonography of femoral arteries in infants is recommended.

Citation Format

  • Groth M, Dammann E, Arndt F et al. Comparison of B-Mode with B-Flow Sonography for the Evaluation of Femoral Arteries in Infants. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2017; 189: 1161 – 1167

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Evaluation von Femoralarterien (FA) bei Neugeborenen im Rahmen einer Herzkatheteruntersuchung mittels B-Mode (BMS) und B-Flow Sonographie (BFS) und Vergleich beider Methoden bzgl. Bildqualität und Reliabilität von Diametermessungen.

Material und Methoden Das Studienkollektiv bestand aus 21 konsekutiven Säuglingen, welche einen Ultraschall zur Evalation der FA vor oder nach Herzkatheteruntersuchung erhielten. Die Ultraschalldatensätze wurden von zwei Radiologen ausgewertet. Es wurden Gefäßdiameter sowie die maximal auf einem Ultraschallbild darstellbare Gefäßlänge mittels BMS und BFS vermessen. Zusätzlich wurde die Bildqualiät von einem Radiologen bewertet. Die Statistik umfasste den Intra-Klassen-Korrelationskoeffizient, eine Bland-Altman Analyse, Fisher´s exakten Test sowie einen t-Test.

Ergebnisse Die Intra- und Interobserverkorrelation war exzellent für BMS (0,7922 and 0,6521) sowie BFS (0,8094 and 0,7637). Eine Bland-Altman Analyse zeigte mittlere Abweichungen zwischen +/–0,73 mm (intraobserver) und für BMS +/–0,55 mm (interobserver) sowie +/–0,83 mm (intraobserver) und +/–0,7 mm (interobserver) für BFS. BFS ermöglicht eine signifikant längere Gefäßabbildung auf einem Ultraschallbild (3,54 +/–0,85 vs. 2,21 +/–0,9 cm, p < 0,0001). Darüber hinaus war die Bildqualität mit BFS signifikant besser als mit BMS (p = 0,0043).

Schlussfolgerung Da BFS eine exzellente Reproduzierbarkeit bei Gefäßdiametermessungen sowie eine der BMS überlegende Bildqualität zeigt, sollte BFS, falls vorhanden, standardmäßig in Untersuchungsprotokolle integriert werden, wenn realistische Gefäßmessungen und -abbildungen erforderlich sind.

Kernaussagen

  • Die B-Flow Sonographie bietet eine hohe Bildqualität für die Evaluation von Femoralarterien

  • Gefäßdiametermessungen können mit der B-Flow Sonographie mit exzellenter Reproduzierbarkeit durchgeführt werden

  • Eine ergänzende B-Flow Sonographie der Femoralarterien von Säuglingen wird empfohlen, falls vorhanden

 
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