Abdominal Applications for Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging

Use of Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging (TUI) in abdominal studies provides clinicians new tools to better understand pathology over conventional 2D ultrasound. Volume Ultrasound acquires volumetric information which can be constructed and manipulated in any plane adding enhanced information for the evaluation of patients.

TUI is a feature of Volume Ultrasound which displays multiple parallel slices within a volume data set, similar to MR and CT. Displaying multiple slices at one time allows quicker and easier viewing of volume information, as well as a more intuitive way to view Volume Ultrasound images. The outcome of using TUI has the capability to reduce scan time and benefit patient care. TUI represents a new, faster, and more flexible approach to clinical ultrasound challenges, as well as creating a workflow similar to other imaging modalities.

Case 1
		A 44 year-old man with no fever or altered liver function test, and currently in treatment for multiple myeloma, presented with mild abdominal discomfort. Using TUI a single volumetric sweep of the liver demonstrated multiple hypoechoic masses. The ability to acquire all relevant diagnostic information with a single volumetric sweep improved efficiency. Biopsy results were positive for fungal infection.
Case 2
A		B
A sagittal (A) and a transverse (B) view of a renal lesion were obtained with a single sweep through the kidney of an asymptomatic 37 year-old scan volunteer. A cystic mass with multiple septations was apparent in both views, consistent with a complex renal mass. The ability to obtain all critical diagnostic information with a single sweep, opposed to the more traditional method of 90-degree probe rotation, assures exact mapping of the lesion location.