HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) A correction has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kamaya, A. Articles by M. Rubin, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kamaya, A. Articles by M. Rubin, J. Social Bookmarking                      What's this? Hotlight (NEW!) What's Hotlight?

Twinkling Artifact on Color Doppler Sonography: Dependence on Machine Parameters and Underlying Cause

¹ All authors: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0030.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to evaluate the color Doppler sonographic effect known as twinkling artifact.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. Struvite (ammonium magnesium phosphate) stone fragments, wire mesh, and a flat surface were scanned in a water bath with a sonography scanner using a high-frequency linear array probe fixed in a ring clamp. Pulse repetition frequency, color-write priority, gray-scale gain, and spectral Doppler gain were varied. Color and spectral Doppler modes were used.

RESULTS. Twinkling artifact and spectral broadening were seen most intensely behind struvite stone fragments, and both were seen more strongly behind wire mesh with greater surface roughness than behind wire mesh with less surface roughness or a flat surface. The appearance of the twinkling artifact is highly dependent on machine settings. System noise measured on a flat surface generates a band-limited Doppler shift on spectral displays with a mean frequency shift of 0 Hz and a mean (± SD) absolute fluctuation of 86 ± 10 Hz over a pulse repetition frequency range of 1250-10,000 Hz. Rough surfaces increase the spectral bandwidth.

CONCLUSION. The appearance of the twinkling artifact is highly dependent on machine settings and is likely generated by a narrow-band, intrinsic machine noise called phase (or clock) jitter. Surface roughness secondarily broadens the noise spectrum. With a strongly reflecting, rough surface such as a renal stone, the high amplitude, broadband signal appears as random motion in color Doppler sonography. Understanding of the twinkling artifact may result in better use of its clinical appearance.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Andrulli, A. Turrin, M. C. Bigi, P. Ravani, A. Trinchieri, and F. Locatelli Colour Doppler twinkling in kidney stones: artefact or sign? NDT Plus, October 13, 2009; (2009) sfp145v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. O'Flynn and P. S. Sidhu The Sonographic Twinkling Artifact in Testicular Calcification J. Ultrasound Med., April 1, 2009; 28(4): 515 - 517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Tchelepi and P. W. Ralls Color Comet-Tail Artifact: Clinical Applications Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2009; 192(1): 11 - 18. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Suh, J. J. Cronan, and J. M. Monchik Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Is There an Increased Prevalence of Renal Stone Disease? Am. J. Roentgenol., September 1, 2008; 191(3): 908 - 911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Brunese, A. Romeo, S. Iorio, G. Napolitano, S. Fucili, B. Biondi, G. Vallone, and A. Sodano A New Marker for Diagnosis of Thyroid Papillary Cancer: B-Flow Twinkling Sign J. Ultrasound Med., August 1, 2008; 27(8): 1187 - 1194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Viduetsky Unexpected Doppler Waveform Patterns in the Lower Extremity Arteries Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, September 1, 2007; 23(5): 293 - 297. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. J. Jeon and S. E. Yoon Color Doppler Twinkling Artifact in Hepatic Bile Duct Hamartomas (von Meyenburg Complexes). J. Ultrasound Med., March 1, 2006; 25(3): 399 - 402. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kamaya, S. Abate, B. Nan, I. Grover, R. S. Adler, D. Jamadar, and J. M. Rubin Characterization of a Linear Streak Artifact With Pulse Inversion Tissue Harmonics in Musculoskeletal Sonography J. Ultrasound Med., December 1, 2004; 23(12): 1597 - 1605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Roubidoux, M. S. Sabel, J. E. Bailey, C. G. Kleer, K. A. Klein, and M. A. Helvie Small (<2.0-cm) Breast Cancers: Mammographic and US Findings at US-guided Cryoablation--Initial Experience Radiology, December 1, 2004; 233(3): 857 - 867. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Mitchell, M. A. Pozniak, J. Zagzebski, and M. Ledwidge Twinkling Artifact Related to Intravesicular Suture J. Ultrasound Med., December 1, 2003; 22(12): 1409 - 1411. [Full Text] [PDF]