Liver phantoms have been developed as an alternative to human tissue and have been used for different purposes. In this article, the items used for liver phantoms fabrication are mentioned same as in the previous literature reviews. Summary and characteristics of these materials are presented. The main factors that need to be available in the materials used for fabrication in computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine were analyzed. Finally, the discussion focuses on some purposes and aims of the liver phantom fabrication for use in several areas such as training, diagnoses of different diseases, and treatment planning for therapeutic strategies – for example, in selective internal radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, laser-induced thermotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave coagulation therapy. It was found that different liver substitutes can be developed to fulfill the different requirements.

Background: The purposes of this study are to sonographically measure the placental thickness (PT) in normal fetuses; to correlate it with gestational age (GA), fetal growth parameters, and estimated fetal weight (EFW); and to design a nomogram for the derived PT measurements. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study on 400 women with apparently normal pregnancy within the age range of 18–45 years recruited from the Antenatal Clinic of our hospital. The fetal GA was estimated by the last menstrual period (LMP). The fetal growth parameters were determined using standard sonographic methods while the PT was measured at the level of the umbilical cord insertion site. PT was then correlated with GA, fetal growth parameters, and the EFW. Results: The mean PT (mean ± standard deviation) in the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd trimesters and the whole duration of pregnancy were 14.5 ± 0.3 mm, 24.6 ± 3.9 mm, 34.8 ± 2.8 mm, and 29.6 ± 7.1 mm, respectively. PT ranged from 13.5 ± 1.9 mm at 11 weeks to 39.1 ± 0.6 mm at 40 weeks. PT (in mm) had a linear relationship and a statistically significant positive correlation with GA (in weeks) in all the trimesters, with most significant correlation recorded in the 2^nd trimester (r = 0.79). There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between PT and the fetal growth parameters (biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length and crown-rump length), and EFW. PT nomogram was developed from 11 to 40 weeks of gestation using a scatter plot with 95% confidence interval for our locality. Conclusion: PT has a linear relationship with GA, fetal growth parameters, and EFW and it can be used along with other fetal growth parameters to increase the accuracy for predicting GA in normal pregnancies, especially when the subject is not sure of or does not know her LMP.

Background: This study aimed at determining the mean portal vein diameter (PVD) based on age, gender, and anthropometric variables. Methods: This was a cross-sectional prospective study carried out among apparently healthy children aged 0–18 years at the radiology department of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, from November 2016 to April 2017. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional committee on ethics and the head of radiology department in ATBUTH, Bauchi. Written and informed consent was obtained from all the participants, through their parents or guardians and from the head teachers of their schools before the study. Participants (children) were recruited (voluntarily) from primary and junior secondary schools within the vicinity of the hospital, and from parents who consented for their children to participate in the study. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentages) and Pearson product-moment correlation were used for the analysis. Statistical significance was considered atP < 0.05. Results: There were 111 (58.2%) males and 99 (47.14%) females. The individuals were between the ages of <1–18 years with mean age of 8.8 ± 5.8. Participants' mean PVD, chest circumference, and body mass index (BMI) for the males were 6.96 ± 1.86 mm, 0.60 ± 0.08 mm, and 15.73 ± 1.40, respectively, and the mean PVD, chest circumference, and BMI for females were 6.60 ± 1.68 mm, 0.58 ± 0.09 mm, and 15.73 ± 1.42, respectively. A positive relationship was found between PVD and some anthropometric parameters. Conclusion: The mean PVD in this study was 6.85 ± 1.18 mm, and the PVD correlates positively with some anthropometric variables among children in the studied population.

Background: Carotid atherosclerosis is not only a marker of systemic atherosclerosis but also a predictor of ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study is to correlate the relationship between atherosclerotic risk factors, plaque categories, percentage of stenosis, stroke subtypes, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This case–control study was conducted over 4 years from December 2014 to December 2018. A total of 500 cases diagnosed with acute cerebral infarct using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were included in the study. Two hundred and fifty healthy controls were studied for the presence of atherosclerotic risk factors and carotid artery IMT by B-mode Doppler ultrasonography. The IMT value thus calculated was 0.79 mm and such a value would include >95% of the controls. Carotid plaques were detected from both sides of IMT measurement of the carotid system. Results: A total of 500 cases of acute infarct and 250 healthy controls were included in this case–control study. CIMT was abnormal in 348 cases with 192 males and 156 females with a mean value of 0.912 ± 0.124 against 0.794 ± 0.132;P< 0.001 controls. Mean CIMT (averaged right and left) varied directly according to the increasing plaque stenosis ranging from 0.70 mm to 0.96 mm in males and 0.68 mm to 0.94 mm in females ranging from no plaque to cases with ≥50% stenosis (P < 0.001 across stenosis categories). On multivariate analysis, CIMT (>0.79) remained associated as compared to other variables (PR [Probability] 5.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.398–22.784;P= 0.012). Mean right CIMT of patients with lacunar infarction, cardioembolism, and large artery stroke was 0.886 ± 0.230, 0.919 ± 0.171, and 0.938 ± 0.169 mm, respectively (P = 0.032). Mean left CIMT of patients with lacunar infarction, cardioembolism, and large artery stroke was 0.884 ± 0.195, 0.916 ± 0.144, and 0.930 ± 0.137 mm, respectively (P = 0.034). Conclusion: CIMT measurements are independent markers of acute ischemic cerebral infarcts. In the current study, CIMT was found to be higher among acute ischemic stroke patients who were the elderly, smoker, hypertensive, diabetic, and hypercholesterolemic than that of nonsmoker, normotensive, nondiabetic, and normocholesterolemic controls.

Background: Possible transtubal spillage of malignant cells is a major concern in fluid instillation sonography, as it is in hysteroscopy. This study aims to compare the transtubal flow of gel and saline and validate the clinical hypothesis that application of fluids with higher viscosity causes less spillage. Methods: Randomized controlledin vitro trial comparing gel and saline infusion on 15 tissue specimens after hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy. Instillations are performed with saline and gel dyed with a 1% ink solution. Qualitative assessment of tubal spill is investigated as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes are instillation-volume and -pressure, assessed by measuring endometrial cavity dilation atin vitro ultrasound examination and subjective numeric 10-point scoring of the instillation pressure by a dedicated examiner. Results: Tubal flow was more often observed during saline instillation (odds ratio 4.88,P= 0.008). Median subjectively assessed instillation pressures were nine arbitrary units for gel and three for saline (P< 0.001). Tubal flow occurred from 2 cc onward in the saline group versus five cc in the gel instillation group. Cavitary dilation did not differ between both groups. Conclusion: Gel instillation sonography isin vitro associated with less tubal flow and therefore could be a safer diagnostic test compared to saline infusion sonography or hysteroscopy.In vivo studies are necessary to confirm these results.

Background: Periportal fibrosis is one of the major complications of schistosomiasis infection. Specific images of this infection revealed by ultrasonography allow the assessment of the different stages. Our purpose is to describe the ultrasonographic appearances of periportal fibrosis due to schistosomiasis infection. Methods: The study was retrospective descriptive in the Medical Imagery Centre of CHUJRA. Results: A total of 29 patients showed upper and/or lower digestive hemorrhage and a positive result in schistosomiasis serology. The median age was 41.2 years. Male gender dominated with 54.7%. In 78.3% of the cases, the patients were farmers in schistosomiasis-endemic areas. On ultrasonography, 81.3% were found to present Stage III periportal fibrosis, 11.5% presented Stage II, and 7.2% presented Stage I. There was no case of portal thrombosis. Splenomegaly was found in 83.2% of the cases and hepatomegaly in 48.9% of the cases. Porto-systemic shunt was detected in 80.7% of the cases and ascites in 72.3%. Conclusion: Ultrasonography examination represents an important role in the diagnosis of periportal fibrosis, in its staging process, and allows the assessment of porto-systemic, hepatic, and splenic alterations.

This case reports on a patient presenting with abdominal pain of 1-month duration; in whom, ultrasound (US) detected a colonic lipoma with intussusception. Further investigation with computed tomography confirmed this finding, and successful endoscopic removal of the lipoma was performed. This case highlights the importance of careful evaluation of the region of interest during US, knowing the appearance of lipoma on US and other modalities, thus aiding its adequate management.

The nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) is a rare anomaly of the inferior laryngeal nerve and is associated with the aberrant subclavian artery (negative Y sign). Despite the low incidence, the risk of iatrogenic injury to the NRLN is high without awareness of this anomaly. Neck ultrasonography is an effective method for detecting vascular anomalies and lowering the risk of vocal cord paralysis. We reported a case of a 39-year-old female with a right thyroid nodule. Neck ultrasonography revealed one ill-defined and hypoechoic thyroid nodule with dimensions of 1.6 cm × 1.0 cm × 0.6 cm and a negative Y sign. The fine-needle aspiration cytology report showed suspicion of a follicular neoplasm, Hurthle cell type. After discussing with the patient, the right thyroid lobectomy was arranged. During the operation, the right NRLN was confirmed. No vocal cord paralysis was noted after the surgery. The patient was finally diagnosed with Hurthle cell adenoma.