Power Doppler ultrasonography: Alternative to computed tomography in abdominal trauma patients

The aim of this study was to determine if power Doppler ultrasonography, co ntrast enhanced when necessary, can be used as an alternative to computed t omography in the diagnosis of trauma-related:organ rupture or hematoma. Fif teen patients who had sustained abdominal trauma but who had normal results on B-mode scans were included in the study. Twenty organs (13 livers and 7 spleens) were examined with both contrast-enhanced computed tomography and power Doppler ultrasonography in a blinded fashion. Ultrasonographic contr ast was used in five patients. Lack of contrast enhancement (computed tomog raphy) or lack of color in power color Doppler ultrasonography in all or pa rt of the organ was taken as a sign of rupture or hematoma. Five ruptures w ere detected with both modalities (two hepatic and three splenic). Thus, ul trasonography showed no false-positive or false-negative studies when compa red to the computed tomographic results. No significant difference was foun d in the estimated size of the damaged area between the two types of invest igation. The study indicates that power color Doppler ultrasonography may b e considered an alternative when a computed tomographic scan of a trauma pa tient is impossible.