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Ultrastructural biologic effects of sonography with pulse inversion and microbubble contrast in rabbit liver
Author(s) -
Caruso Giuseppe,
Valentino Biagio,
Salvaggio Giuseppe,
Lipari Elvira Farina,
Lipari Diego,
Brancatelli Giuseppe,
Lagalla Roberto,
Cardinale Adelfio Elio
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.20097
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrastructure , rabbit (cipher) , pathology , contrast (vision) , ultrasonography , lagomorpha , microbubbles , ultrasound , radiology , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science
Abstract Purpose This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the biologic effects of microbubble destruction with pulse‐inversion harmonic imaging on rabbit liver parenchyma. Methods The livers of 6 albino rabbits were examined sonographically by a single investigator. Three rabbits underwent contrast‐enhanced sonography, with scanning starting 5 seconds after injection by using pulse‐inversion harmonic imaging with a mechanical index of 1.2. Four time‐triggered images were recorded at a rate of 1 frame every 2 seconds. For comparison, 3 control rabbits had pulse‐inversion harmonic imaging with a mechanical index of 1.2 only, without contrast medium. Immediately after sonography, the animals were killed and uninterrupted, thin serial sections of the liver from both groups were analyzed by energy‐filtered transmission electron microscopy. Results The hepatic parenchyma of rabbits exposed to contrast agents had ultrastructural damage: mitochondria with fragmented crests; interrupted rough endoplasmic reticulum; enlarged intercellular spaces; highly vacuolized cytoplasmic areas; dilated sinusoids, sometimes with an irregular and interrupted endothelial wall; fragmented hepatocyte microvilli in dilated spaces of Disse; fragmented or missing microvilli in bile canaliculi; vacuolated and lysosome‐deprived hepatic cytoplasm around the bile canaliculi; markedly injured or fragmented endothelium in larger vessels; and damaged basal membrane. Control‐group results indicated that exposure to ultrasound alone did not cause ultrastructural damage to hepatic cells. Conclusions Simultaneous exposure to contrast administration and pulse‐inversion harmonic imaging with a high mechanical index causes ultrastructural damage in the rabbit liver. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 33:106–111, 2005