Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze imaging findings in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) with a particular focus on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Materials and Methods This retrospective multicenter study included 10 patients with histologically proven HEHE from 5 European centers. All existing ultrasound images/videos were independently analyzed by 2 experienced examiners (DEGUM level III, internal medicine) using a standardized evaluation form. Patterns of contrast enhancement were correlated with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pathological findings. Results B-mode ultrasound, CEUS, CT, and MRI were performed in 90 %, 70 %, 100 %, and 90 % of patients, respectively. Multifocal HEHE could be observed in 80 % with affection of both liver lobes in 70 %. Analysis of CEUS revealed 3 characteristic patterns that correlated well with contrast patterns on CT and MRI: (a) peripheral nodular enhancement with centripetal fill-in and wash-out in the portal venous and late venous phase (PVLP), (b) rim-like arterial enhancement with wash-out in the PVLP, and (c) inversed target sign with/without wash-out in the PVLP. Wash-out in the PVLP as a sign suspicious of malignancy was observed in 6/7 patients (85.7 %). Conclusions Knowledge of the different characteristic CEUS patterns is of importance to avoid misdiagnosis due to resemblance of patterns A and B to the much more common focal liver lesions hemangioma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Of importance, sonographers should be aware that wash-out in the PVLP might be absent in some patients.

In order to provide faculty-wide undergraduate ultrasound training in times of scarce resources, many medical faculties employ trained peer-student tutors to oversee the hands-on training. However, data to guide the training of ultrasound peer-student tutors are scarce. We conducted a prospective quasi-randomized study to assess the gain in theoretical knowledge and practical scanning skills of peer-student tutors who were trained with a course only, an internship only, or the combination of a course and an internship. A total of 44 peer-student tutors were trained by a one-week course only (C-Group, n = 21), by an internship only (I-Group, n = 10) or by a course and an internship (CI-Group, n = 13). Prior to and after the completion of the training the peer-student tutors completed an MC-test (theoretical knowledge) and an OSCE (practical scanning skills). With all three education concepts, the peer-student tutors had significant and comparable gains in theoretical knowledge (C-group + 90%, I-group + 61.5%, CI-group + 114.0%) and practical scanning skills (C-group + 112.0%, I-group + 155.0% and CI-group + 123.5%), all p < 0.001. Peer-student tutors, who were trained with a course or an internship or a course and internship improved their theoretical knowledge and their practical scanning skills significantly and to a comparable degree.

Background Ustekinumab was approved for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe CD 2. Development of predictors for selecting patients responding to ustekinumab has to be the next step. US offers a noninvasive method with great sensitivity in detecting CD activity 11. Aim To evaluate BWT by BS as early diagnostic tool for treatment response in CD patients treated with ustekinumab at week 8. Methods This is a prospective monocentric study. Twenty-three CD patients had BS at the time of first and second application. BS was performed by one of 2 experienced DEGUM certificated sonographers, with evaluation by both independently and blindly. Primary endpoint was substantial sonographic response defined as decrease of BWT ≥ 1 mm. Secondary endpoint was concordance between sonographic and clinical response, defined as decrease of CDAI ≥ 70 points and sonographic and biochemical response defined as decrease of CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dl. Results At week 8, BS detected in 10 of 23 patients a substantial decrease of BWT ≥ 1 mm; in 7, a decrease < 1 mm. Compared to baseline, all 17 patients showed generally improved blood data and 16/17 generally improved clinical data. Of those with a decrease of BWT ≥ 1 mm, we observed a substantial decrease of CDAI ≥ 70 points in 9/10 patients and a substantial decrease of CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dl in 8/10 patients. Conclusion Our study suggests that sonographic measurement of BWT can be a helpful parameter for selecting patients responding early to ustekinumab and for providing assistance in terms of further treatment interval at week 8.

To evaluate whether there is a change in findings of coronavirus disease 2019 patients in follow up lung ultrasound and to determine whether these findings can predict the development of severe disease. In this prospective monocentric study COVID-19 patients had standardized lung ultrasound (12 area evaluation) at day 1, 3 and 5. The primary end point was detection of pathologies and their change over time. The secondary end point was relationship between change in sonographic results and clinical outcome. Clinical outcome was assessed on development of severe disease defined as need for intensive care unit. Data of 30 patients were analyzed, 26 patients with follow-up lung ultrasound. All of them showed lung pathologies with dynamic patterns. 26,7% developed severe disease tending to have an ubiquitous lung involvement in lung ultrasound. In patients with need for intensive care unit a previously developed increase in B-lines, subpleural consolidations and pleural line irregularities was more common. A statistically significant association between change in B-lines as well as change in pleural line irregularities and development of severe disease was observed (p<0,01). The present study demonstrates that follow up lung ultrasound can be a powerful tool to track the evolution of disease and suggests that lung ultrasound is able to indicate an impending development of severe disease in COVID-19 patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether changes in repeated lung ultrasound (LUS) or chest X-ray (CXR) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients can predict the development of severe disease and the need for treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this prospective monocentric study, COVID-19 patients received standardized LUS and CXR at day 1, 3 and 5. Scores for changes in LUS (LUS score) and CXR (RALE and M-RALE) were calculated and compared. Intra-class correlation was calculated for two readers of CXR and ROC analysis to evaluate the best discriminator for the need for ICU treatment. A total of 30 patients were analyzed, 26 patients with follow-up LUS and CXR. Increase in M-RALE between baseline and follow-up 1 was significantly higher in patients with need for ICU treatment in the further hospital stay (p = 0.008). Both RALE and M-RALE significantly correlated with LUS score (r = 0.5, p < 0.0001). ROC curves with need for ICU treatment as separator were not significantly different for changes in M-RALE (AUC: 0.87) and LUS score (AUC: 0.79), both being good discriminators. ICC was moderate for RALE (0.56) and substantial for M-RALE (0.74). The present study demonstrates that both follow-up LUS and CXR are powerful tools to track the evolution of COVID-19, and can be used equally as predictors for the need for ICU treatment.

Background/Objectives: Accurate risk stratification of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) remains clinically challenging. This study evaluates a structured imaging-based scoring approach for IPMN risk stratification, referred to as the Tübingen Dignity Score (TDS), and compares its diagnostic performance with established methods. Methods: In this retrospective study, imaging findings from patients with suspected IPMN were analyzed using MRI, CT, and ultrasound. The TDS was applied as an imaging-based scoring system. Diagnostic performance was assessed in a histopathological subset and compared with MRI-based assessment and Fukuoka criteria. Results: MRI showed high sensitivity (94.4%) but limited specificity (57.1%). Fukuoka criteria showed high sensitivity (100%) and high specificity (91.3%) in this cohort, although with a lower positive predictive value. In contrast, the TDS showed high specificity (100%) and positive predictive value, but lower sensitivity (40%), reflecting a different diagnostic profile. These findings indicate a trade-off between sensitivity and specificity across the evaluated approaches. However, the limited number of malignant cases limits the robustness and generalizability of these estimates. Conclusions: The TDS may serve as a complementary, imaging-based tool within a multimodal diagnostic framework for IPMN. Its potential value lies in supporting clinical decision-making in selected cases, particularly where established criteria yield inconclusive results. Given the limited sample size, retrospective single-center design, and exploratory nature of this study, external prospective multicenter validation is required before routine clinical application can be recommended.