EchoScopy in scanning abdominal diseases; a prospective single center study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Ultrasound
• Point-of-Care Technology

Background:

• Portable handheld ultrasound devices offer increased accessibility and affordability.
• European Federation of Societies of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) defines this approach as "EchoScopy".
• Assessing the utility of these devices in abdominal disease diagnosis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the image quality of a portable pocket ultrasound (EchoScopy).
• To compare EchoScopy with a high-end ultrasound system (HEUS) for abdominal diseases.
• To determine the indications and limitations of handheld ultrasound in this context.

Main Methods:

• 300 consecutive patients underwent abdominal ultrasound examinations.
• Examinations were performed first with an EchoScope (Vscan™ Dual Probe) and then with a HEUS (GE Logiq E9).
• Image quality was graded (good, sufficient, or non-sufficient) and compared between devices.

Main Results:

• EchoScopy provided good or sufficient image quality in 88% (265/300) of patients.
• The detection rate for abdominal focal lesions was 78% (172/221) with EchoScopy.
• The higher frequency probe aided in 12% (35/300) of cases.

Conclusions:

• EchoScopy demonstrates sufficient image quality for specific diagnostic questions in abdominal diseases.
• The device is effective for detecting conditions like ascites, splenomegaly, and hydronephrosis.
• Handheld ultrasound provides valuable "yes/no" diagnostic capabilities at the point of care.