OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interobserver variability of ultrasound in the measurement of subcutaneous, visceral and perirenal fat through standard technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2006 to January 2007, 50 patients were evaluated. The subcutaneous fat thickness was measured with a 7.5 MHz linear transducer transversely positioned 1 cm above the umbilical scar. For the visceral fat, a 3.5 MHz transducer was also positioned 1 cm above the umbilical scar, considering the distance between the internal surface of the abdominal rectus muscle and the posterior aortic wall in the abdominal midline. The perirenal fat was measured in the middle third of the right kidney, with the transducer positioned at the axillary midline. RESULTS: The t-Student test was utilized to analyze the interobserver reproducibility with significance level of 95%. No statistically significant difference was observed among mean values for subcutaneous, visceral and perirenal fat (p = 0.7141, 0.7286 and 0.6368, respectively). Mean and standard deviation corresponded to 2.64 ± 1.37 for subcutaneous thickness, 6.84 ± 2.38 for visceral fat, and 4.89 ± 2.6 for perirenal fat. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound presented a good interobserver reproducibility in the evaluation of abdominal fat based on measurement of subcutaneous, visceral and perirenal fat as parameters.

Keywords: Abdominal fat, Ultrasound, Metabolic syndrome

Color dopplervelocimetry is an ultrasound modality that has rapidly expanded to all medical areas due to the large amount of information that can be obtained. Orbital color dopplervelocimetry has been used for the diagnosis of ophthalmic disorders and to study specific diseases such as preeclampsia. The aim of this study is to describe the normal anatomy of the orbit and the technical details of color dopplervelocimetry, since this is an accessible and reproducible technique. We believe that new applications for this technique will emerge and that it will be introduced in the daily practice of radiologists to improve the quality of diagnosis and follow-up of ocular and systemic diseases.

Keywords: Dopplervelocimetry, Ophthalmic artery, Central retinal artery, Orbital vessels

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between right hepatic vein Doppler flowmetry and degree of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis at biopsy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and Methods: Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 80 patients divided into two groups as follows: 40 patients diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and also submitted to biopsy, and a control group including 40 healthy adults with no risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The Doppler waveform patterns of right hepatic vein were classified into triphasic, biphasic and monophasic. Biopsy specimens were classified according to the degree of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Results: Triphasic flow was observed in 38 (95%) patients of the control group and in nine (56%) patients with mild steatosis, whereas in patients with severe steatosis, the pattern was monophasic in 60%. A statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of Doppler patterns (p < 0.01). A significant negative correlation between the Doppler waveform pattern of right hepatic vein and steatosis degree was observed (r = 0.57; p < 0.01). Conclusion: An abnormal Doppler waveform pattern of right hepatic vein in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may suggest the presence of decreased vascular compliance caused by fatty infiltration.

Keywords: Fatty liver; Hepatic steatosis; Ultrasonography; Doppler flowmetry; Hepatic vein; Liver biopsy.