Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of adding 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in evaluation of renal transplant vasculature compared to 2-dimensional (2D) Duplex ultrasound. METHODS:One hundred thirteen consecutive renal transplant 2D and 3D ultrasound examinations were performed and retrospectively reviewed by 2 board-certified radiologists and a radiology resident individually; each reviewed 2D and then 3D images, including color and spectral Doppler. They recorded ability to visualize the surgical anastomosis and rated visualization on a subjective scale. Interobserver agreement was evaluated. Variant anastomosis anatomy was recorded. Tortuosity or stenosis was evaluated if localized Doppler velocity elevation was present. RESULTS:The reviewers directly visualized the anastomosis more often with 3D ultrasound ((Equation is included in full-text article.)=97.5%) compared with 2D ((Equation is included in full-text article.)=54.5%) [difference in means (DM) = 43% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 36%-50%) (P < 0.001)]. The reviewers visualized the anastomosis more clearly with 3D ultrasound (P < 0.001) [difference in medians = 0.5, 1.0, and 1.0, (95% CI = 0.5-1.0, 0.5-1.0, and 1.0-1.5)]. Detection of variant anatomy improved with 3D ultrasound by 2 reviewers [DM = 7.1% and 8.9% (95% CI = 1%-13% and 4%-14%, respectively) (P < 0.05)]. There was high interobserver agreement [(Equation is included in full-text article.)= 95.3%, (95% CI = 91.9%-98.7%) regarding anastomosis visualization among reviewers with wide-ranging experience. CONCLUSIONS:Direct visualization of the entire anastomosis was improved with 3D ultrasound. Three-dimensional evaluation improved detection of anatomic variants and identified tortuosity as the likely cause of borderline localized elevation in Doppler velocity. The data added by 3D ultrasound may obviate confirmatory testing with magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomographic angiography after equivocal 2D ultrasound results.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a 4-year clinical experience with ultrasound-guided therapeutic perineural injections of peripheral nerves about the foot and ankle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of foot and ankle perineural injections performed between January 2012 and August 2016. Demographics, clinical indications, presence of structural pathology, immediate and interval pain relief, as well as complications were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-nine therapeutic injections were performed among 46 patients, accounting for multiple injections in a single visit or multiple visits [mean age = 43 years (range 18-75), 31 female (67%) and 15 male (33%)]. Most commonly, perineural injections involved the hallux branch of the medial plantar nerve (n = 17, 22%). Least commonly, perineural injections involved the saphenous nerve (n = 3, 4%). Other injections in our series include sural (10), superficial (11) and deep (7) peroneal, medial (5) and lateral (3) plantar nerves, and the posterior tibial nerve (3). Ultrasound evaluation revealed structural abnormality associated with the nerve in 30 cases (51%)-most commonly thickening with perineural scarring (n = 14). Of 45 injections with complete documentation, immediate relief of symptoms was reported in 43 (96%) cases. Interval symptom relief was achieved in 23 injections [short term (n = 12), intermediate (n = 6), and long term (n = 5)] out of 38 for which follow-up was available (61%). Complications are rare, occurring in only one case. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided perineural injections about the foot and ankle are safe and provide lasting symptomatic relief for many indications. Concomitant sonographic evaluation identifies structural abnormalities that may contribute to neuropathic symptoms, allowing targeting of injection or clinical therapy.

Purpose: Determine the frequency and pattern of Chopart joint injury in acute ankle injuries and assess familiarity of the interpreting radiologists with this injury. To the best of our knowledge this clinically difficult diagnosis has barely been reported in the radiology literature, yet may be important for diagnosis and treatment of calcaneocuboid joint instability. Materials and Methods: Normal Chopart joint: 25 MRIs in 25 patients without clinical or MRI evidence of ankle ligamentous pathology were reviewed to establish normal MRI appearance of the calcanocuboid and talonavicular joints, with attention to the dorsal calcaneocuboid, bifurcate, spring, short and long plantar, and talonavicular ligaments. Chopart joint injury: A digital search for ankle MRIs obtained within 8 weeks of clinical history of acute ankle injury was performed (2/2014-8/2016). The studies were retrospectively reviewed for ligamentous and osseous pathology at Chopart joint. Other relevant findings were recorded: Lateral collateral ligament injury, plantar talar marrow edema, and extensor digitorum brevis (E