Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical feasibility of ultra-high-frequency abdominal ultrasound (UHFUS) scans of preterm and term infants.
METHODS: Prospectively, 19 healthy term newborn infants were examined with conventional ultrasound (CUS) (Toshiba, Aplio i700, linear probe 14L5) and UHFUS (Visualsonics VevoMD, linear probes UHF48 and UHF70) according to a standardised protocol. Measurements of wall thickness were performed for; stomach, small intestine, colon and peritoneum. Five preterm infants, with or without suspected necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), were also examined with UHF48. Of these, only one was later diagnosed with NEC.
RESULTS: Differences between CUS and UHFUS (UHF48) were found in measurements of thickness; for peritoneum 0.25 versus 0.13 mm (p < 0.001), small intestine 0.76 versus 0.64 mm (p = 0.039) and colon 0.7 versus 0.47 mm (p < 0.001) in healthy term infants. Gaining frequency from 46 to 71 MHz showed a mean reduction in measurements of peritoneum from 0.13 to 0.09 mm (p < 0.001). One preterm infant with NEC showed a fivefold and twofold increase in peritoneal and gastrointestinal wall thickness respectively, compared to healthy preterm infants.
CONCLUSIONS: UHFUS was a clinically feasible, promising method with potential to improve gastrointestinal diagnostics in infants. Lower peritoneum thickness and gastrointestinal wall thickness were demonstrated with UHFUS compared to CUS, suggesting an overestimation by CUS.
METHODS: Prospectively, 19 healthy term newborn infants were examined with conventional ultrasound (CUS) (Toshiba, Aplio i700, linear probe 14L5) and UHFUS (Visualsonics VevoMD, linear probes UHF48 and UHF70) according to a standardised protocol. Measurements of wall thickness were performed for; stomach, small intestine, colon and peritoneum. Five preterm infants, with or without suspected necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), were also examined with UHF48. Of these, only one was later diagnosed with NEC.
RESULTS: Differences between CUS and UHFUS (UHF48) were found in measurements of thickness; for peritoneum 0.25 versus 0.13 mm (p < 0.001), small intestine 0.76 versus 0.64 mm (p = 0.039) and colon 0.7 versus 0.47 mm (p < 0.001) in healthy term infants. Gaining frequency from 46 to 71 MHz showed a mean reduction in measurements of peritoneum from 0.13 to 0.09 mm (p < 0.001). One preterm infant with NEC showed a fivefold and twofold increase in peritoneal and gastrointestinal wall thickness respectively, compared to healthy preterm infants.
CONCLUSIONS: UHFUS was a clinically feasible, promising method with potential to improve gastrointestinal diagnostics in infants. Lower peritoneum thickness and gastrointestinal wall thickness were demonstrated with UHFUS compared to CUS, suggesting an overestimation by CUS.
摘要：
目的：探讨超高频腹部超声（UHFUS）扫描早产儿和足月儿的临床可行性。
方法：前瞻性，19例健康足月新生儿接受了常规超声（CUS）检查（东芝，Aplioi700，线性探头14L5）和UHFUS（VisualsonicsVevoMD，线性探头UHF48和UHF70）根据标准化方案。进行壁厚测量；胃，小肠,结肠和腹膜.5名早产儿,有或没有可疑的坏死性小肠结肠炎（NEC），也用UHF48检查。其中,只有一个人后来被诊断为NEC。
结果：在厚度测量中发现了CUS和UHFUS（UHF48）之间的差异；对于腹膜0.25与0.13mm（p<0.001），健康足月婴儿的小肠0.76对0.64mm（p=0.039）和结肠0.7对0.47mm（p<0.001）。从46到71MHz的频率增益显示腹膜测量值从0.13到0.09mm的平均减少（p<0.001）。一名患有NEC的早产儿的腹膜和胃肠壁厚度分别增加了五倍和两倍。与健康的早产儿相比。
结论：UHFUS在临床上是可行的，有希望的方法，有可能改善婴儿的胃肠道诊断。与CUS相比，UHFUS的腹膜厚度和胃肠壁厚度较低，暗示CUS高估了。
方法：前瞻性，19例健康足月新生儿接受了常规超声（CUS）检查（东芝，Aplioi700，线性探头14L5）和UHFUS（VisualsonicsVevoMD，线性探头UHF48和UHF70）根据标准化方案。进行壁厚测量；胃，小肠,结肠和腹膜.5名早产儿,有或没有可疑的坏死性小肠结肠炎（NEC），也用UHF48检查。其中,只有一个人后来被诊断为NEC。
结果：在厚度测量中发现了CUS和UHFUS（UHF48）之间的差异；对于腹膜0.25与0.13mm（p<0.001），健康足月婴儿的小肠0.76对0.64mm（p=0.039）和结肠0.7对0.47mm（p<0.001）。从46到71MHz的频率增益显示腹膜测量值从0.13到0.09mm的平均减少（p<0.001）。一名患有NEC的早产儿的腹膜和胃肠壁厚度分别增加了五倍和两倍。与健康的早产儿相比。
结论：UHFUS在临床上是可行的，有希望的方法，有可能改善婴儿的胃肠道诊断。与CUS相比，UHFUS的腹膜厚度和胃肠壁厚度较低，暗示CUS高估了。
