Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 18, Issue 10 669-672, Copyright © 1999 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Power Doppler ultrasonography: alternative to computed tomography in abdominal trauma patients
A. Nilsson, I. Loren, N. Nirhov, T. Lindhagen and P. Nilsson
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital MAS, University of Lund, Malmo, Sweden.
The aim of this study was to determine if power Doppler ultrasonography,
contrast enhanced when necessary, can be used as an alternative to computed
tomography in the diagnosis of trauma-related organ rupture or hematoma.
Fifteen patients who had sustained abdominal trauma but who had normal
results on B-mode scans were included in the study. Twenty organs (13
livers and 7 spleens) were examined with both contrast-enhanced computed
tomography and power Doppler ultrasonography in a blinded fashion.
Ultrasonographic contrast was used in five patients. Lack of contrast
enhancement (computed tomography) or lack of color in power color Doppler
ultrasonography in all or part of the organ was taken as a sign of rupture
or hematoma. Five ruptures were detected with both modalities (two hepatic
and three splenic). Thus, ultrasonography showed no false-positive or
false-negative studies when compared to the computed tomographic results.
No significant difference was found in the estimated size of the damaged
area between the two types of investigation. The study indicates that power
color Doppler ultrasonography may be considered an alternative when a
computed tomographic scan of a trauma patient is impossible.
