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The health care of patients in rural or isolated areas is challenged by the scarcity of local resources, limited patient access to doctors and hospitals, and the lack of specialized professionals. This has led to a new concept in telemedicine: teleultrasonography (or teleultrasound), which permits ultrasonographic diagnoses to be performed remotely. Telemedicine and teleultrasonography are effective in providing diagnostic imaging services to these populations and reduce health care costs by decreasing the number and duration of hospitalizations and reducing unnecessary surgical procedures. This is a narrative review to present the potential clinical applications of teleultrasonography in clinical practice. The results indicate that although barriers persist for implementing teleultrasonography in a more universal and routine way, advances in telecommunications, Internet bandwidth, and the high resolution currently available for portable ultrasonography suggest teleultrasonography applications will continue to expand. Teleultrasound appears to be a valuable addition to remote medical care for isolated populations with limited access to tertiary healthcare facilities and also a useful tool for education and training.

Objective: To assess the quality of images and video clips of fetal central nervous (CNS) structures obtained by ultrasound and transmitted via tele-ultrasound from Brazil to Australia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 15 normal singleton pregnant women between 20 and 26 weeks were selected. Fetal CNS structures were obtained by images and video clips. The exams were transmitted in real-time using a broadband internet and an inexpensive video streaming device. Four blinded examiners evaluated the quality of the exams using the Likert scale. We calculated the mean, standard deviation, mean difference, and p values were obtained from paired t tests. Results: The quality of the original video clips was slightly better than that observed by the transmitted video clips; mean difference considering all observers ¼ 0.23 points. In 47/60 comparisons (78.3%; 95% CI ¼ 66.4–86.9%) the quality of the video clips were judged to be the same. In 182/240 still images (75.8%; 95% CI ¼ 70.0–80.8%) the scores of transmitted image were considered the same as the original. Conclusion: We demonstrated that long distance tele-ultrasound transmission of fetal CNS structures using an inexpensive video streaming device provided images of subjective good quality.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a reprodutibilidade intra-observador da ultra-sonografia tridimensional (US3D) real com a US virtual, nas modalidades multiplanar e volumétrica. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram examinados, prospectivamente, 132 blocos provenientes de 44 avaliações de 26 conceptos. Dezoito conceptos tinham idade gestacional ecográfica de oito semanas a oito semanas e seis dias, e 26 tinham de dez semanas a dez semanas e seis dias. Realizou-se a US3D, analisando-se: comprimento cabeça-nádega, saco gestacional, saco amniótico, translucência nucal, conduto onfalomesentérico, vesícula vitelínica, membros superiores, membros inferiores, distinção cabeça-tórax, perfil da face, coronal da face, implantação das orelhas, perfil da coluna, coronal da coluna, parede abdominal fechada. Foram obtidos três blocos por concepto para posterior realização da US virtual. A análise estatística foi feita utilizando-se o teste t de Student, o teste de McNemar e o kappa. RESULTADOS: No grupo I, a avaliação ultra-sonográfica 3D real multiplanar versus 3D virtual multiplanar, na análise das variáveis contínuas, evidenciou diferença significativa para todas. Na avaliação das variáveis categóricas, evidenciou-se que todas não apresentaram diferença significativa. No grupo II, a avaliação ultra-sonográfica 3D real volumétrica versus 3D virtual volumétrica demonstrou diferença significativa apenas para a variável implantação de orelhas. Os resultados das análises das variáveis categóricas evidenciaram concordância para a maioria das variáveis analisadas em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Há reprodutibilidade intra-observador da US3D com a modalidade virtual, multiplanar e volumétrica. OBJECTIVE: To compare the intraobserver reproducibility of real three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) with virtual ultrasonography using multiplanar and volumetric reformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 132 blocks from 44 evaluations of 26 conceptuses were prospectively examined. The gestational age determined by echography ranged from eight weeks and eight weeks and six days in 18 conceptuses and ten weeks and ten weeks and six days in 26 conceptuses. The following structures were analyzed by 3DUS: crown-rump length, gestational sac, amniotic sac, nuchal translucency, omphalomesenteric duct, vitellin vesicle, upper limbs, lower limbs, head-thorax distinction, lateral view of the face, coronal view of the face, ear implantation, lateral view of the spine, coronal view of the spine, and closed abdominal wall. Three blocks were obtained from each conceptus for virtual ultrasonography. Student's t test, McNemar test and kappa statistics were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: In group I, real multiplanar 3DUS versus 3D virtual multiplanar ultrasonography, the analysis of continuous variables showed significant differences for all variables. The analysis of categorical variables showed no significant differences in any of the variables. In group II, real volumetric 3DUS versus virtual volumetric ultrasonography, showed significant differences only for ear implantation. The results of the analyses of categorical variables were consistent for most of the variables analyzed in both groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there is intraobserver reproducibility of virtual ultrasonography using multiplanar and volumetric reformations.

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a reprodutibilidade intra-observador e interobservador da medida do volume endometrial utilizando ultra-sonografia tridimensional (3D) e o programa VOCAL® (Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis). MÉTODOS: um bloco ultra-sonográfico 3D do endométrio foi obtido de cinco pacientes inférteis voluntárias que apresentavam diferentes volumes endometriais. Para cada bloco 3D, o volume endometrial foi calculado utilizando o modo manual em quatro diferentes passos de rotação (30º, 15º, 9º e 6º) por dois diferentes observadores. Dez medidas foram obtidas para cada rotação e por cada observador. Testamos a diferença entre as médias com o one-way ANOVA e o pós-teste de Tukey e a reprodutibilidade com os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse. RESULTADOS: as medidas realizadas com passo de rotação de 30º foram associadas a médias significativamente menores em 3 das 5 pacientes. Não houve diferença entre as médias obtidas pelos passos de rotação de 15º, 9º ou 6º. Em nenhuma das avaliações foi notada diferença entre as médias obtidas pelos dois observadores. Os coeficientes de correlação intraclasse foram significativamente menores com o passo de rotação de 30º (todos abaixo de 0,984) que com os outros passos de rotação (todos acima de 0,996). CONCLUSÕES: o uso de passos de rotação de 15º ou menos apresentou medidas reprodutíveis do volume endometrial: não houve diferença significativa entre as médias obtidas pelos dois observadores, associado ao alto coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (>0,996). É recomendável o uso do passo de rotação de 15º, pois demora menos para ser obtido em comparação com 6º e 9º.

OBJETIVO: avaliar o comprimento do colo uterino, por meio da ultra-sonografia transvaginal, em gestantes com rotura prematura pré-termo de membranas. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: o grupo de estudo (Ge) foi constituído por 26 grávidas entre a 24ª e a 36ª semana de gestação e o grupo controle (Gc) por 49 pacientes clinicamente normais, na mesma idade gestacional. As pacientes foram avaliadas entre a 24ª e 28ª, 28ª e 32ª, 32ª e 36ª semana de gestação, sendo subdivididas nos subgrupos Ge24-28, Ge28-32, Ge32-36 e Gc24-28, Gc28-32, Gc32-36, conforme pertencessem ao grupo de estudo e controle, respectivamente. O comprimento do colo uterino foi obtido por meio da ultra-sonografia transvaginal, em vista sagital, realizando-se a medida linear da distância entre os orifícios cervicais interno e externo. RESULTADOS: observamos diferenças significantes das medidas do comprimento do colo uterino entre Ge24-28 e Gc24-28, cujos valores foram 24,3 e 33,0 mm, respectivamente (p=0,04), como também entre Ge32-36 e Gc32-36, cujos valores foram, respectivamente, 20,1 e 28,0 mm (p=0,005). Os períodos de latência dos grupos Ge24-28, Ge28-32 e Ge32-36 foram, respectivamente, sete, cinco e três dias, apresentando correlação positiva com o comprimento do colo uterino (r=0,66) e negativa com a idade gestacional (r=-0,27). CONCLUSÃO: o comprimento do colo uterino variou de acordo com a idade gestacional em que a rotura prematura pré-termo das membranas foi detectada, sendo menor no grupo de estudo que no grupo controle entre a 24ª e a 28ª e entre a 32ª e a 36ª semana. Além disso, demonstrou-se que quanto menor o comprimento do colo, menor é o tempo de latência, e que houve diminuição no período de latência à medida que aumentou a idade gestacional em que se deu a rotura.

The objective of the present study was to determine the uterine volume of adolescents by ultrasonography, and to correlate it with pregnancy during adolescence and with the immaturity of the female genital tract for pregnancy and delivery. A transverse observational study was conducted on 828 patients who were 10 to 40 years old by transabdominal ultrasonography and were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 477 (57.6%) adolescents and group 2 consisted of 351 (42.3%) women 20 to 40 years old. Uterine volume increased with the presence of menarche, age and parity (p < 0.05). Nulliparous and primiparous adolescents younger than 18 years old had a smaller uterine volume, 41.3 ± 17.9 and 51.6 ± 19.7 cm3, respectively, than nulliparous and primiparous women 20 to 40 years old (p < 0.001). However, secundiparous adolescents had a uterine volume of 62.6 ± 20.6 cm3, which was significantly similar to the uterine volume of women 20 to 40 years old (p = 0.22). The differences in uterine volume between adolescents younger than 18 years old or with less than two deliveries and women who were 20 to 40 years old may be due to immaturity of the female genital tract for pregnancy and delivery among younger women, with a consequent higher incidence of preterm deliveries in this group. (E-mail: gadelhamail@bol.com.br)

The most frequently nontrophoblastic tumor of the placenta found is chorioangioma, with an incidence of about 1%. When they are small, they do not significantly affect the fetus, but the large ones can cause intrauterine growth restriction, polyhydramnios, premature delivery, congestive heart failure and fetal death. The authors report a case of chorioangioma in a 28-year-old woman, second gestation, whose diagnosis was established at the 32nd week by ultrasound and confirmed by the anatomopathological examination. Ultrasonography evaluations showed chronic fetal distress and the delivery was performed at 36 weeks. The newborn results were satisfactory with Apgar 9-10 and fetal weight 2.460 g.

Objetivo: verificar a acurácia do ultra-som transabdominal (USTA) em determinar as alterações fisiológicas e patológicas do volume uterino e comparar o volume do útero ao USTA e ultra-som transvaginal (USTV), procurando verificar a relação dos métodos. Métodos: inicialmente foram revistos, retrospectivamente, 1186 exames ecográficos pélvicos (USTA e USTV), verificando-se as principais doenças e indicações para estes exames. A seguir, foram selecionados 480 USTA sem doenças uterinas e correlacionou-se o volume uterino com a idade e paridade. Finalmente, foi realizado estudo prospectivo comparando-se o volume uterino de 50 mulheres ao USTA e USTV. Para análise estatística utilizaram-se os testes t de Student e coeficientes de correlação de Spearman e Pearson. Resultados: correlacionando-se com a paridade, para P = 0 (n = 99) o volume foi de 44,4 cm³; para P = 1 (n = 72) o volume foi 58,5 cm³; para P = 2-3 (n = 137), o volume foi 75,8 cm³; para P = 4-5 (n = 56), 88 cm³ e para P = 6 ou mais (n = 26), 105 cm³, mostrando uma correlação positiva entre a paridade e o volume uterino. Com o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman obtiveram-se r = 0,59 e p = 0,001; o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi r = 0,55 e o mesmo p. Não houve variações significantes do volume uterino ao USTA e USTV. Conclusões: o útero aumenta com a paridade e sofre alterações do seu volume com a idade, sendo essas modificações detectadas ao USTA. Ambos os métodos (USTA e USTV) são equivalentes na medida do volume uterino; entretanto, a repleção vesical ao USTA permite melhor avaliação do comprimento uterino. Purpose: to determine the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) in revealing physiological and pathological changes in uterine volume, and to compare uterine volume detected by TAUS and by transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) in an attempt to determine the relationship between the two methods. Methods: a total of 1,186 pelvic echographic examinations (TAUS and TVUS) were first reviewed retrospectively in terms of the major diseases and indications for the examinations. A total of 480 TAUS examinations without uterine disease were then selected and uterine volume was correlated with age and parity. Finally, a retrospective study was conducted to compare the uterine volume of 50 women obtained by TAUS and TVUS. Data were analyzed statistically by Student's t-test and Spearman and Pearson correlation. Results: correlating with parity, volume was 44.4 cm³ for P = 0 (n = 99), 58.5 cm³ for P = 1 (n = 72), 75.8 cm³ for P = 2-3 (n = 137), 88cm³ for P = 4-5 (n = 56), and 105cm³ for P = 6 or more (n = 26), showing a positive correlation between parity and uterine volume. Calculation of Spearman's correlation coefficient yielded r = 0.59 and p = 0.001 and calculation of Pearson's correlation coefficient yielded r = 0.55 and the same p value. There were no significant differences between the uterine volumes detected by TAUS and TVUS. Conclusions: the volume increases with parity and changes with age, and these modifications are detected by TAUS. The two methods (TAUS and TVUS) are equivalent in determining the uterine volume; however, when TAUS is used, bladder filling allows a better evaluation of the uterine length.

We evaluated the diagnostic quality of first-trimester ultrasound images transmitted in realtime using low-cost telecommunications. A prospective sample of fetal ultrasound images from 11 weeks to 13 weeks and six days of pregnancy was obtained from pregnant women over 18 years old. The examinations were transmitted in realtime to three independent examiners who carried out a qualitative assessment based on parameters established by the Fetal Medicine Foundation. All fetal structures could be viewed and the quality of images received by the examiners was considered normal. There were significant differences for crown-rump length and nuchal translucency in the transmitted images but the loss in definition was acceptable. Thus the quality of images transmitted via the Internet through the use of low-cost software appeared suitable for screening for chromosomal abnormalities in the first trimester of pregnancy.

PURPOSE: To determine the values of amniotic fluid in normal fetuses during the first trimester of pregnancy by three- and bi-dimensional ultrasonography. METHODS: In a prospective longitudinal study, 25 normal fetuses were evaluated from the 8th to the 11th week of gestation. Amniotic fluid volume was measured by endovaginal ultrasonography with the three- and two-dimensional modes. The two-dimensional study consisted of volumetric determination by mathematical calculation based on an ellipsoidal shape (constant 0.52) to obtain the amniotic sac and embryo volumes. In the three-dimensional study, the amniotic fluid volume was determined by the VOCAL technique using 6, 9, 15, and 30 degrees of rotation. The amniotic fluid volume obtained by 6-degree rotations was considered to be the final result. In both modes, amniotic fluid volume was obtained by subtracting the volume of the embryo from the volume of the amniotic sac. Data were analyzed statistically for variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression analysis. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The amniotic fluid volume as measured by two-dimensional ultrasonography increased from 5.45 to 39.52 cm3 in the range from the 8th to the 11th week (ANOVA - p < 0.05). There was a correlation between gestational age and amniotic fluid volume (p < 0.001, r2 = 88.3%). In the three-dimensional study, the amniotic fluid volume increased from 5.7 to 42.9 cm3 in the range from the 8th to the 11th week (ANOVA - p < 0.05), and again a correlation between gestational age and amniotic fluid volume (p < 0.001, r2 = 98.1%) was observed. CONCLUSION: an increase in amniotic fluid volume occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, as determined by the two- and three-dimensional modes. In addition, we have demonstrated that the higher the gestational age, the larger the amniotic fluid volume.

OBJETIVO: analisar a evolução do comprimento cervical uterino, ao longo da gestação, avaliado por meio da ultra-sonografia transvaginal. MÉTODOS: foi realizado estudo prospectivo, longitudinal, no qual 82 gestantes hígidas foram acompanhadas desde o início da gestação, das quais 49 mantiveram o seguimento até o parto sem complicações da gravidez, sendo examinadas a cada quatro semanas, e agrupadas, conforme a paridade, em nulíparas ou com um ou mais partos anteriores. O comprimento do colo uterino foi avaliado em vista sagital pela ultra-sonografia transvaginal, com a medida linear da distância entre os orifícios cervicais interno e externo. RESULTADOS: as médias de comprimento do colo uterino, bem como os percentis 5, 25, 50, 75 e 95, em função da idade gestacional, não diferiram significativamente entre os grupos estudados (p>0.05). No intervalo entre a 20ª e a 24ª semana gestacional o comprimento cervical variou entre 28, 35 e 47,2 mm, com os percentis 5, 50 e 95, respectivamente. O comprimento cervical uterino diminuiu progressivamente ao longo da gestação normal, sendo esse encurtamento significativo após a 20ª semana de gravidez e mais expressivo após a 28ª semana (p0.05). Between the 20thand 24th gestacional week, the 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of cervical length were 28, 35 and 47.2 mm, respectively. Cervical length decreased progressively during normal pregnancy, with a significant shortening observed after 20 weeks of gestation and being more marked after 28 weeks (p