High-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound in evaluating perfusion of superficial lesions: Limitations and countermeasures / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the perfusion defect of superficial lesions by high-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound through comparing the results of low-frequency and high-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and to put forward the preliminary countermeasures. Methods: Twenty-three patients (9 male and 14 female, aged 45.87 ± 9.32 years, ranging 34-73 years) with 6 sorts of superficial lesions, including 1 parotid pleomorphic adenoma, 3 thyroid adenomas, 5 thyroid adenocarcinomas, 5 cervical metastases, 7 breast carcinomas and 2 of testicular seminomas, were examined by both low-frequency and high-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasounds. CEUS with SonoVue under CPS-Cadence mode was performed for each lesion using abdominal probe (low-frequency probe) 5 min before small parts probe (high-frequency probe). ACQ software was used to determine the peak intensity (PI) and the results were analyzed by Student's t test in pairs. Results: The PI values of all the 6 types of lesions were significantly lower in high-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound images than those in the low-frequency contrast-enhanced ultrasound images (P<0.001). Conclusion: The micro-vascular enhancement of superficial lesions by high-frequency CEUS might be lower than the real enhancement intensity. Abdominal low-frequency probe should be recommended for revealing the perfusion status of superficial lesions after high-frequency probe, which is used for observing the morphology and internal structures of superficial lesions.