ABSTRACT
Purpose To study the effects of different doses of ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue upon contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the kidney of healthy rabbits, and to seek the optimal dose of SonoVue. Materials and Methods CEUS was performed in 10 healthy rabbits with GE LOGIQ-E9 by using 8 different doses of SonoVue (ranging from 0.02 ml/kg to 0.16 ml/kg). The quantitative parameters of the time-intensity curve (TIC) were measured and statistically compared. Results The TICs showed that the peak intensity (PI) and the area under curve (AUC) increased with dose when the doses ranged from 0.02 ml/kg to 0.10 ml/kg (r=0.962 and 0.965, P<0.05); when the dose further increased, AUC had little change but PI decreased reversely. The arrival time (AT) shortened along with the increase of the SonoVue dose (r= - 0.917, P<0.05). The dose had a positive correlation with time to peak (r=0.49, P<0.05). Conclusion The parameters of TIC are influenced intensely by different doses of SonoVue. It is important to realize the relationship between SonoVue doses and its effects upon contrast-enhancement ultrasound in microcirculatory quantification. The dose of 0.10 ml/kg appears to be the optimal dose for CEUS in examining kidney of healthy rabbit.
ABSTRACT
Purpose To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating blunt hepatic trauma and to provide experimental reference. Materials and Methods Fifteen healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into groups A, B and C, with 5 rabbits in each group. Hepatic area of the rabbits in each group was stroked using a self-made mini striker with forces of 127.8 N, 213.0 N and 298.2 N, respectively, to establish rabbit models of blunt hepatic trauma. Gray-scale ultrasound (US) and CEUS were performed within 20 minutes before and after trauma. Results Hepatic capsular rupture was observed in 10 rabbits on US. Ill-defined hypoechoic areas in various degrees were observed. CEUS and time-signal intensity curve analysis showed that the normal hepatic tissue began to enhance after contrast agent injection, well-defined against non-enhanced hepatic lesions. The sensitivity of US and CEUS for blunt hepatic trauma were 66.7% (10/15) and 100.0% (15/15), respectively (P<0.05). The agreement with specimen was 40.0% (6/15) for US and 86.7% (13/15) for CEUS, respectively (P<0.05), with Kappa=0.815 for CEUS (P<0.001). Conclusion CEUS improves diagnostic accuracy of blunt hepatic trauma and accurately assesses the severity, which shows good agreement with gross specimen.