This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Edmonds, P. D. Articles by Sandstrom, K. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Edmonds, P. D. Articles by Sandstrom, K. L.

Guidelines for Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine Authors and Reviewers on Measurement and Reporting of Acoustic Output and Exposure

Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California USA (P.D.E.); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago, Illinois USA (J.S.A.) (now with Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois USA); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA (P.L.C.); Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York USA (E.L.C.); and Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc, Mountain View, California USA (K.L.S.).

Address correspondence to Peter D. Edmonds, PhD, Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, PN-085, 333 Ravenswood Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA. E-mail: edmonds_peter{at}yahoo.com

Objective. This report responds to a request from a deputy editor of the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (JUM) for guidelines for measurement and reporting of acoustic output and exposure. The request was addressed to the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine’s Technical Standards and Bioeffects Committees, which appointed a task group to draft a response. A basic premise of scientific reporting is the expectation that another investigator will wish to replicate a reported study. Therefore, it is essential that all pertinent information available or accessible to an investigator be reported. Methods and Guidelines. Rationales and checklists are presented to draw authors’ attention to aspects of experimental design and exposimetry that require consideration in project planning, execution, and reporting. Checklists are presented for use in 2 distinct categories of activity: (1) clinical settings in which a biophysical end point (bioeffect) is observed incidentally during another procedure; and (2) research projects specifically planned to investigate biophysical end points (bioeffects). Reportable parameters for the former are limited to essentials, whereas those for the latter are presented in detail. Certain basic information is recommended as mandatory for reports in both categories; certain additional parameters are designated as expected (at 3 levels of importance) when results of research are reported. Clinical investigators should comply with the short, first table (Table 1) and the last (Table 5) if applicable, but are encouraged to include additional data specified in other tables, as appropriate. Bioeffects experimenters should comply with Table 2 and such supplementary tables as are applicable to their study design. Table 3 is applicable if the study involved animal or human subjects. Table 4 is applicable if the study was on cells or in vitro. Table 5 is applicable if contrast agents were used in the study. Conclusions. We recommend that principal authors be required to certify to the JUM editors that they have reviewed the appropriate checklists and complied with indicated expectations. We recommend to reviewers that they consider individually adopting a mandatory requirement for reporting a basic set of parameters and/or descriptors of the equipment that are readily ascertainable by, or should be known to, a clinical user.

Key Words: acoustic output • authors • bioeffects • exposure guidelines • measurement • reviewers • reporting

Abbreviations: AIUM, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine • JUM, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine • MI, mechanical index • MR, mandatory reporting • NEMA, National Electrical Manufacturers Association • ODS, Output Display Standard • TI, thermal index

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. S. Abramowicz, S. B. Barnett, F. A. Duck, P. D. Edmonds, K. H. Hynynen, and M. C. Ziskin Fetal Thermal Effects of Diagnostic Ultrasound J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2008; 27(4): 541 - 559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Abramowicz and E. Sheiner Acoustic Output in Obstetric Ultrasound, ALARA and Education J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2006; 25(4): 561 - 562. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Sheiner, J. Freeman, and J. S. Abramowicz Acoustic Output as Measured by Mechanical and Thermal Indices During Routine Obstetric Ultrasound Examinations J. Ultrasound Med., December 1, 2005; 24(12): 1665 - 1670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]