Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare image quality and endoleak detection after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between a triphasic computed tomography (CT) with true noncontrast (TNC) and a biphasic CT with virtual noniodine (VNI) images on photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT). Materials and Methods: Adult patients after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair who received a triphasic examination (TNC, arterial, venous phase) on a PCD-CT between August 2021 and July 2022 were retrospectively included. Endoleak detection was evaluated by 2 blinded radiologists on 2 different readout sets (triphasic CT with TNC-arterial-venous vs biphasic CT with VNI-arterial-venous). Virtual noniodine images were reconstructed from the venous phase. The radiologic report with additional confirmation by an expert reader served as reference standard for endoleak presence. Sensitivity, specificity, and interreader agreement (Krippendorf α) were calculated. Image noise was assessed subjectively in patients using a 5-point scale and objectively calculating the noise power spectrum in a phantom. Results: One hundred ten patients (7 women; age, 76 ± 8 years) with 41 endoleaks were included. Endoleak detection was comparable between both readout sets with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.95/0.84 (TNC) versus 0.95/0.86 (VNI) for reader 1 and 0.88/0.98 (TNC) versus 0.88/0.94 (VNI) for reader 2. Interreader agreement for endoleak detection was substantial (TNC: 0.716, VNI: 0.756). Subjective image noise was comparable between TNC and VNI (4; IQR [4, 5] vs 4; IQR [4, 5], P = 0.44). In the phantom, noise power spectrum peak spatial frequency was similar between TNC and VNI (both f_peak = 0.16 mm⁻¹). Objective image noise was higher in TNC (12.7 HU) as compared with VNI (11.5 HU). Conclusions: Endoleak detection and image quality were comparable using VNI images in biphasic CT as compared with TNC images in triphasic CT offering the possibility to reduce scan phases and radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to prospectively evaluate early postoperative morphologic and functional changes after deep flexor tendon repair in zone II using ultrasound and to correlate findings from ultrasound with the clinical outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Ten patients (mean age, 34 years; range, 19–55 years) with 11 injured deep flexor tendons of the hand underwent surgical tendon repair. Postoperative tendon morphology was assessed with gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound over a period of 3 months. Tendon excursion over the proximal interphalangeal joint was assessed by sonographic scar tracking. Correlation of ultrasound findings with clinical outcome was performed. RESULTS. Almost all repaired tendons exhibited a spindlelike shape after 1 week, of which 50% developed a normal shape after 12 weeks. A persisting spindlelike shape over 3 months was associated with a significantly increased tendon excursion (p < 0.05) and a trend toward better active motion of the fingers (p = 0.056)....

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical success of percutaneous ultrasound-guided access to the infraclavicular axillary artery with a suture-mediated closing device for patients requiring large-sized upper extremity access. Patients and methods: In 18 consecutive patients (17 male, one female, mean age 73.5 ± 9.6 years, range 52–88 years), artery accesses with the preclosing modification for chimney endografts was gained with 20 ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary. Retrospectively, the following endpoints were analysed: technical success of percutaneous ultrasound-guided puncture of the infraclavicular axillary artery as well as introduction and deployment, primary successful haemostasis by preclosing, bailout procedures, overall complication rate including local vascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral neurological complications. Results: Ultrasound-guided puncture and preclosing procedure was successful in all patients. Mean sheath size was 9.4 ± 1.6 French. Ultrasound-guided puncture as well as introduction and deployment were successful in all patients (100 %). Primary successful haemostasis by preclosing was 70 % (14/20). Postclosing with one or two devices enabled successful haemostasis in another 15 %. Bailout stent graft implantation was necessary in three accesses (15 %), either by transfemoral (n = 2) or transbrachial (n = 1) route. Overall complication rate was 16.5 %, all of them were minor haematomas. Conclusions: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary artery access with preclosing modification seems feasible and safe. The access related complication rate is low and complications can potentially be managed by endovascular means.