Three-dimensional ultrasound assessment of pelvic floor: impact of theoretical and practical course on caregiver accuracy

Diagnostic Value of Combined Detection of Pelvic Ultrasound and Serum LH, FSH, and E2 Levels in Children with Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty

Objective

To study the diagnostic value of combined detection of pelvic ultrasound and serum LH, FSH, and E2 levels in children with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP).

Methods

30 cases of children with ICPP admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected as the experimental group, and 30 healthy people during the same period were selected as the control group. Both groups received pelvic ultrasound and serum LH, FSH, and E2 detection; the two groups were compared in terms of serum indicators, combined diagnosis, specificity, and sensitivity.

Results

There were statistical differences in height, leptin, bone age, and areola diameter between the two groups (p < 0.05). The length of the uterus, the volume of the uterus, the area of the ovary, the volume of the ovary, and the maximum diameter of the follicle in the experimental group were larger than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The endometrial thickness of the experimental group was significantly greater than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The levels of serum LH, FSH, and E2 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The area of the combined detection was significantly larger than that of the single detection. The combined detection was superior to the single detection with respect to the area, standard error a, asymptotic Sig. B, and asymptotic 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). The sensitivity of the combined detection was significantly higher than that of the single detection.

Conclusion

The combined detection of pelvic ultrasound and serum LH, FSH, and E2 levels may be a preferred technique for the diagnosis of children with ICPP due to its benefits of high sensitivity and accuracy. It is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Assessment of levator hiatal area using 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis and superficial dyspareunia treated with pelvic floor muscle physiotherapy: randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is associated with chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle hypertonia. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor physiotherapy (PFP) on the area of levator ani hiatus during Valsalva maneuver, assessed using transperineal ultrasound, in women with DIE suffering from superficial dyspareunia.

METHODS

This was a randomized controlled trial of 34 nulliparous women diagnosed with DIE and associated superficial dyspareunia. After an initial clinical examination, all patients underwent three-dimensional/four-dimensional (3D/4D) transperineal ultrasound to measure the levator hiatal area (LHA) at rest, on maximum pelvic floor muscle contraction and on maximum Valsalva maneuver, and were asked to rate their pain symptoms using a numerical rating scale (NRS). Eligible women were assigned randomly (1:1 ratio) to no intervention (control group, 17 women) or treatment with five individual sessions of PFP (study group, 17 women). Four months after the first examination, all women underwent a second evaluation of pain symptoms and LHA on transperineal ultrasound. The primary outcome measure was the percentage change in LHA on maximum Valsalva maneuver between the baseline and follow-up examinations. The percentage changes in pain symptoms between the two examinations, including superficial and deep dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dysuria and dyschezia, were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Thirty women, comprising 17 in the study group and 13 in the control group, completed the study and were included in the analysis. The percentage change in LHA on maximum Valsalva maneuver between the two examinations was higher in the study group than in the control group (20.0 ± 24.8% vs -0.5 ± 3.3%; P = 0.02), indicating better pelvic floor muscle relaxation. After PFP treatment, the NRS score for superficial dyspareunia remained almost unchanged in the control group (median change in NRS (Δ-NRS), 0 (interquartile range (IQR), 0-0)) while a marked reduction was observed in the study group (median Δ-NRS, -3 (IQR, -4 to -2); P < 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the PFP and control groups with regards to the change in chronic pelvic pain (median Δ-NRS, 0 (IQR, -2 to 0) vs 0 (IQR, 0-1); P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In women with DIE, PFP seems to result in increased LHA on Valsalva maneuver, as observed by 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound, leading to improved superficial dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain and pelvic floor muscle relaxation. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Brain views that benefit from three-dimensional ultrasound

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Fetal central nervous system malformations are among the most common congenital anomalies. Whereas simple axial views are sufficient for basic fetal brain examination, other important views are essential for a more detailed examination, which are sometimes challenging to obtain. Three-dimensional ultrasound can be helpful in obtaining standardized and reproducible images of many difficult fetal brain views. The aim of the present review is to explore the most recent evidence on the utility and technique of three-dimensional ultrasound in the examination of the fetal brain, with particular emphasis on the brain views that benefit from three-dimensional ultrasound.

RECENT FINDINGS

The article describes the various techniques of acquisition and analyses of three-dimensional ultrasound volumes of the fetal brain and their usefulness in the assessment of normal and abnormal fetal brain anatomy. Three-dimensional ultrasound has also permitted the application of many new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and deep machine learning. Recently, thanks to high-quality three-dimensional ultrasound, fetal cortical development can be assessed quantitatively and reliably.

SUMMARY

Three dimensional ultrasound can help as a complementary tool to two-dimensional ultrasound in the assessment of the fetal brain development and malformations. In addition, it paves the way for the application of promising technologies in the evaluation of fetal brain.

VIDEO ABSTRACT

A video summarizing the findings of the article. The video illustrates the various approaches and techniques applied for the examination of the fetal brain using three-dimensional ultrasound. Furthermore, the advantages and future perspectives of the application of three-dimensional ultrasound in the examination of the fetal brain are discussed, http://links.lww.com/COOG/A74.

The dynamic change of the anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus under Valsalva maneuver at term and labor outcome

AIM

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between the proportional change of anteroposterior diameter (APD) of levator hiatus from rest to maximum Valsalva maneuver in nulliparous women at term and labor outcome.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited nulliparous women at term before the onset of labor. Women underwent a two-dimensional transperineal ultrasound, measuring the APD of the levator hiatus at rest and under maximum Valsalva's maneuver. APD change from rest to maximum Valsalva was described both in terms of absolute figures and proportional change. Correlation of APD change with the mode of delivery and with labor durations was assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, 486 women were included in the analysis. No significant association between change in APD and the mode of delivery. We found a significant negative correlation between change of APD from rest to Valsalva and the duration of active second stage both in terms of absolute change (Pearson's r = -0.138, P = .009) and in terms of proportional change (Pearson's r = -0.154, P = .004). Survival outcomes based on Cox-regression model showed that APD was independently associated with the duration of active second stage of labor after adjusting for epidural analgesia, maternal age and body mass index (hazard ratio, 1.008; 95% confidence interval, 1.001-1.016; P = .04) CONCLUSION: Women with higher increase of the anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus from rest to Valsalva have a shorter active second stage of labor.