3D B-flow sonographic evaluation of stenosis in forearm hemodialysis fistulas

Objective: To evaluate the forearm arteriovenous fistula stenosis in hemodialysis patients using 3D B-Flow imaging technique. Methods: GE E8 ultrasound diagnostic unit was used to three dimensionally reconstruct the image of stenosis segments in 45 hemodialysis patients by executing CT angiography (CTA) confirmed forearm fistula stenosis, 3D color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), 3D power Doppler (PDI) and 3D B-flow imaging (B-Flow), respectively; the diameters of stenosis were measured and compared with the diameters measured by CTA. Results: Stenosis diameter measured by 3D CDFI was 2.1 ± 0.6 mm; by 3D PDI, 2.3 ± 0.5 mm; by 3D B-Flow, 1.7 ± 0.3 mm; by 3D CTA, 1.8 ± 0.5 mm. The stenosis diameter measured by 3D B-Flow differs significantly from those measured by 3D CDFI and 3D PDI, but does not differ much from that measured by CTA. There is an obvious positive correlation between the diameters measured by 3D CDFI, 3D PDI, 3D B-Flow and those measured by 3D CTA respectively. The diameter measured by B-Flow can be best correlated with that measured by CTA. Conclusion: 3D B-Flow is a new way for the evaluation of forearm arteriovenous fistula stenosis in hemodialysis.