The role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in preoperative screening of patients with uterine fibroids treated by magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features in preoperative screening of patients with uterine fibroids treated by magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS).Methods:The preoperative CEUS features of 28 patients (32 lesions) with uterine fibroids treated by MRgFUS in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2018 to March 2021 were analyzed. The relationships between the imaging features of lesions and the necrosis range were evaluated, which included echo intensity in gray-scale ultrasound, the patterns of the perfusion intensity, perfusion distribution, the contrast agent into the model, lesions with entangled branch vessels, ring-like enhancement, and perfusion regression.Results:The gray-scale ultrasound showed that 68.75%(22/32) lesions were hypoechoic. The CEUS showed that 81.25%(26/32) lesions were iso/hypo-enhancement, 65.63%(21/32) lesions were heterogeneous enhancement, 68.75%(22/32) lesions with entangled branch vessels, 71.88%(23/32) lesions with ring-like enhancement, and 75%(24/32) lesions with fast-out enhancement. The 6 indicators above-mentioned had effects on the non-perfusion volume ratio≥50%, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:CEUS can evaluate the blood flow characteristics in uterine fibroids, providing important information for preoperative screening of uterine fibroids for MRgFUS ablation.