Siemens debuts new release of Freestyle scanner

AuntMinnie.com staff writers

Oct 9, 2014

Siemens Healthcare has released a new version of its Acuson Freestyle ultrasound scanner.

Release 3.5 of Freestyle includes enhanced needle visualization for better display of needles during ultrasound-guided procedures. It also sports a new mobile link app that connects the scanner to Microsoft Windows tablets over a shared wireless network, enabling users to view, open, and share images and clips within the stored patient study list.

In addition, a new user interface improves the usability of the system, with a larger clinical image display, autohide of imaging parameters, preset display customization, and a playback feature that supports playback of clips up to 60 seconds long.

(A,B) Images from an initial ultrasound examination showed no identifiable lesions and received a consensus ultrasound category of US-1. Nearly the entire liver is visualized, with minimal shadowing (“s”, A and B), and the examination received consensus result of VIS-A. The AFP level was 7.1 ng/mL on assessment six months before the ultrasound, 9.1 ng/mL on assessment three months before examination, and 14.2 ng/mL on assessment on exam day. The AFP result was thus assessed as positive based on a progressive increase on two consecutive tests. The atient was considered to have negative surveillance result according to LI-RADS Ultrasound Surveillance v2017, but positive surveillance result according to LI-RADS Ultrasound Surveillance v2024. (C-D) Axial arterial-phase (C) and portal-venous phase (D) T1-weighted images from subsequent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI show a 2-cm arterial-phase hyperenhancing observation (arrow, C) with portal-venous washout (arrow, D) in segment 7. This observation was classified on MRI as LR-5, thus meeting the present study’s reference standard for diagnosis of HCC. The mass is located in the periphery of the liver, an anatomic area where ultrasound visualization can be challenging due to shadowing.

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Images depict a 49-year-old female participant with cryptogenic cirrhosis who presented with a 3.2-cm liver lesion. This biopsy-confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an initial categorization of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category LR-4 (probably HCC) at CT was upgraded to LR-5 (definitely HCC) at contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). (A) Precontrast CT images in the liver show vague hypoattenuation in the medial left hepatic lobe (arrows). (B) Arterial phase images demonstrate no definite arterial phase hyperenhancement (arrows). (C) Washout and an enhancing capsule (arrows) on a late-phase image resulted in an LR-4 categorization. (D) B-mode ultrasound shows a round hypoechoic nodule (arrows). (E) An early-phase CEUS image shows clear arterial-phase hyperenhancement (arrows); (F) No washout at one minute (arrows), and (G) late, mild washout at four minutes (arrows) resulted in a CEUS LR-5 categorization.

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(A,B) Images from an initial ultrasound examination showed no identifiable lesions and received a consensus ultrasound category of US-1. Nearly the entire liver is visualized, with minimal shadowing (“s”, A and B), and the examination received consensus result of VIS-A. The AFP level was 7.1 ng/mL on assessment six months before the ultrasound, 9.1 ng/mL on assessment three months before examination, and 14.2 ng/mL on assessment on exam day. The AFP result was thus assessed as positive based on a progressive increase on two consecutive tests. The atient was considered to have negative surveillance result according to LI-RADS Ultrasound Surveillance v2017, but positive surveillance result according to LI-RADS Ultrasound Surveillance v2024. (C-D) Axial arterial-phase (C) and portal-venous phase (D) T1-weighted images from subsequent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI show a 2-cm arterial-phase hyperenhancing observation (arrow, C) with portal-venous washout (arrow, D) in segment 7. This observation was classified on MRI as LR-5, thus meeting the present study’s reference standard for diagnosis of HCC. The mass is located in the periphery of the liver, an anatomic area where ultrasound visualization can be challenging due to shadowing.

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Images depict a 49-year-old female participant with cryptogenic cirrhosis who presented with a 3.2-cm liver lesion. This biopsy-confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an initial categorization of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category LR-4 (probably HCC) at CT was upgraded to LR-5 (definitely HCC) at contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). (A) Precontrast CT images in the liver show vague hypoattenuation in the medial left hepatic lobe (arrows). (B) Arterial phase images demonstrate no definite arterial phase hyperenhancement (arrows). (C) Washout and an enhancing capsule (arrows) on a late-phase image resulted in an LR-4 categorization. (D) B-mode ultrasound shows a round hypoechoic nodule (arrows). (E) An early-phase CEUS image shows clear arterial-phase hyperenhancement (arrows); (F) No washout at one minute (arrows), and (G) late, mild washout at four minutes (arrows) resulted in a CEUS LR-5 categorization.

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Ultrasound images depict a 63-year-old man who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. (A–D) 2D images show four hyperplastic parathyroid glands on the right and left sides (marked with crosshairs). The numbers near the crosshairs represent the number of measured trails. (E) Ultrasound-guided infusion of isolation fluid (arrowheads) around the hyperplastic parathyroid gland to protect vital organs such as the trachea (Tr), carotid arteries (CA), and recurrent laryngeal nerve pathway area (arrow). F) Ultrasound-guided RFA of the hyperplastic parathyroid gland. (G) Immediate postoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound shows no contrast enhancement in the ablation area. The ablation procedures for the other three parathyroid glands were the same as those described above. Image courtesy of the RSNA,

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