Cranial suture simulator for ultrasound diagnosis of craniosynostosis

Pediatr Radiol (2004) 34: 535540DOI 10.1007/s00247-004-1196-6 ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Cranial suture simulator for ultrasound diagnosis of craniosynostosis

Anh-Vu Ngo Raymond W. Sze Marguerite T. Parisi Manrita Sidhu Angelisa M. Paladin Ed Weinberger Kristy D. Seidel Michael L. Cunningham

Received: 21 January 2004 Revised: 17 February 2004 Accepted: 26 March 2004 Published online: 23 April 2004 Springer-Verlag 2004

Abstract Background: In evaluating the eectiveness of ultrasound as a screening tool for craniosynostosis it was discovered that sonologists and sonographers needed more experience scanning and visualizing cranial sutures on ultrasound. Objective:To create an ultrasound simulator to train radiologists and technologists to locate and recognize patent and fused cranial sutures in children. Materials and methods: The hypoechoic appearance of patent sutures was simulated by cutting lines into life-sized plastic doll heads and lling them with a commercial hypoechogenic material. Fused hyperechoic sutures were simulated by not cutting into the hard plastic region of a suture. The simulators teaching value was evaluated on three radiology residents and three fellows. Subjects performed pre-training scans on unknown simulators, received feedback and an

opportunity to scan a training simulator, and then performed post-training scans on random unknown simulators. Accuracy was recorded as percentage of correctly demonstrated sutures. Results: The suture simulator reproduces the sono-graphic appearance of patent and fused cranial sutures. Accuracy of acquisition, interpretation, and overall diagnosis increased from 64 to 91%, 79 to 91%, 61 to 97%, respectively, between pre and post training scans. Conclusion:An ultrasound simulator can reproduce the appearance of patent and fused cranial sutures in children and can be used to train radiologists and technologists in the performance of a screening protocol.

Keywords Craniosynostosis Ultrasound Phantom Imaging

A.-V. Ngo (&)

University of Washington, 134, Mary Gates Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-2810, USA E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: [phone]Fax: [phone]

R. W. Sze M. T. Parisi M. SidhuA. M. Paladin E. Weinberger Department of Radiology, Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center, 4800, Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105-0371, USA

K. D. Seidel Department of Research Administration, Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center, 4800, Sand Point Way N.E. Seattle, WA 98105-0371, USA

M. L. Cunningham Childrens Craniofacial Center, Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center, 4800, Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98105-0371, USA

Introduction Craniosynostosis is a serious and relatively common disease,...