Increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra is a typical transcranial sonography finding in Parkinson disease. Experimental software for digital analysis of the echogenic substantia nigra area has been developed. The aim of this study was to compare the evaluation of substantia nigra echogenicity by using digital analysis with a manual measurement in patients with Parkinson disease and healthy volunteers. One hundred thirteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in the derivation cohort, and 50 healthy volunteers and 30 patients with Parkinson disease, in the validation cohort. The substantia nigra was imaged from the right and left temporal bone window by using transcranial sonography. All subjects were examined twice by using different sonographic machines by an experienced sonographer. DICOM images of the substantia nigra were encoded; then, digital analysis and manual measurement of the substantia nigra were performed. The 90th percentile of the derivation cohort values was used as a cut-point for the evaluation of the hyperechogenic substantia nigra in the validation cohort. The Spearman coefficient was used for assessment of the correlation between both measurements. The Cohen κ coefficient was used for the assessment of the correlation between both measurements and Parkinson disease diagnosis. The Spearman coefficient between measurements by using different machines was 0.686 for digital analysis and 0.721 for manual measurement (P < .0001). Hyperechogenic substantia nigra was detected in the same 26 (86.7%) patients with Parkinson disease by using both measurements. Cohen κ coefficients for digital analysis and manual measurement were 0.787 and 0.762, respectively (P < .0001). The present study showed comparable results when measuring the substantia nigra features conventionally and by using the developed software.

Aims Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) enlargement is detectable in patients with increased intracranial pressure. The aim was to detect an enlargement of the ONSD using optic nerve sonography in patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) within 6 h of the onset of symptoms. Methods Thirty-one acute ICH patients, 15 age-matched acute ischaemic stroke patients and 16 age-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled consecutively in this prospective bi-centre observational study. All acute stroke patients underwent brain CT, optic nerve sonography and transcranial colour-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) at admission within 6 h of stroke onset. The ONSD both 3.0 and 12.0 mm behind the globe using optic nerve sonography were recorded and statistically evaluated, as were age, sex, haemorrhage volume and midline shift measured by CT, and blood flow velocities in both middle cerebral arteries using TCCS. Results In acute ICH patients, a significant enlargement of ONSD was detected (p2.5 cm³ was the relative ONSD enlargement of >0.66 mm (>21 %), with 90.3% accuracy and kappa coefficient 0.760 (95% CI 0.509 to 1.000). Conclusions Sonographically measured enlargement of the ONSD may already be detectable in the hyperacute stage of increased intracranial pressure.

In the last decade, ultrasound examination in neurology has been undergoing a significant expansion of its modalities. In parallel, there is an increasing demand for rapid and high-quality diagnostics in various acute diseases in the prehospital setting, the emergency room, intensive care unit, and during surgical or interventional procedures. Due to the growing need for rapid answers to clinical questions, there is particular demand for diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The Neuro-POCUS working group, a joint project by the European Academy of Neurology Scientific Panel Neurosonology, the European Society of Neurosonology and Cerebral Hemodynamics, and the European Reference Centers in Neurosonology (EAN SPN/ESNCH/ERcNsono Neuro-POCUS working group), was given the task of creating a concept for point-of-care ultrasound in neurology called “Neuro-POCUS”. We introduce here a new ultrasound examination concept called point-of-care ultrasound in neurology (Neuro-POCUS) designed to streamline conclusive imaging outside of the ultrasound center, directly at the bedside. The aim of this study is to encourage neurologists to add quick and disease-oriented Neuro-POCUS to accompany the patient in the critical phase as an adjunct not a substitution for computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or standard comprehensive neurosonology examination. Another goal is to avoid unwanted complications during imaging-free periods, ultimately resulting in advantages for the patient.

Objectives The aim of this retrospective study was to compare intracranial arterial stenosis in patients with stroke using 3 different methods: transcranial color‐coded duplex sonography, computed tomographic (CT) angiography, and digital subtraction angiography in a common clinical practice. Methods Sixty‐seven patients (47 male and 20 female; age range, 23–79 years; mean age ± SD, 62.0 ± 9.5 years) were enrolled in this study over 40 months. All patients underwent examinations of the intracranial arteries using transcranial color‐coded sonography, CT angiography, and digital subtraction angiography. Findings were divided into 4 groups: normal, mild stenosis (<50%), severe stenosis (50%–99%), and occlusion. Results Because of technical reasons or an insufficient bone window, 465 of 536 arterial segments in 67 patients were evaluated; 12 stenotic and 15 occluded segments were detected using digital subtraction angiography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of transcranial color‐coded sonography and CT angiography in comparison with digital subtraction angiography as a reference standard were 88.9%, 94.8%, 51.1%, and 99.3% and 81.5%, 98.7%, 78.6%, and 98.6%, respectively. The agreement between transcranial color‐coded sonography and CT angiography was 93.8% (κ = 0.559); between transcranial color‐coded sonography and digital subtraction angiography, it was 93.9% (κ = 0.588); and between CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography, it was 96.6% (κ = 0.697). Conclusions Moderate agreement was found between CT angiography, transcranial color‐coded sonography, and digital subtraction angiography in the evaluation of intracranial stenosis. Computed tomographic angiography and digital subtraction angiography are sufficient for assessment of the diagnosis.