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Hepatocyte Injury Induced by Contrast‐Enhanced Diagnostic Ultrasound
Author(s) -
Miller Douglas L.,
Lu Xiaofang,
Fabiilli Mario,
Dou Chunyan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.14883
Subject(s) - evans blue , medicine , vital stain , trypan blue , bolus (digestion) , staining , ultrasound , hepatocyte , microbubbles , liver injury , nuclear medicine , diagnostic ultrasound , pathology , radiology , surgery , cell , pharmacology , chemistry , biochemistry , in vitro
Objectives Contrast‐enhanced diagnostic ultrasound (US) has a potential to induce localized biological effects. The potential for contrast‐enhanced diagnostic US bioeffects in liver were researched, with guidance from a report by Yang et al ( Ultrasonics 2012; 52:1065–1071). Methods Contact and standoff scanning was performed for 10 minutes with a diagnostic US phased array at 1.6 MHz during bolus injection or infusion of a contrast agent at a high dose. The impact of the imaging on rat liver was investigated by measuring enzyme release, microvascular leakage, and staining of injured hepatocytes. Results The results showed liver enzyme release at 30 minutes, indicating liver injury, and elevated extraction of Evans blue dye, indicating microvascular leakage. In addition, Evans blue and trypan blue vital‐staining methods revealed scattered stained cells within the US scan plane. For the Evans blue method, fluorescent cell counts in frozen sections were greatest for standoff exposure with contrast infusion. The count decreased strongly with depth for bolus injection, which was probably reflective of the high attenuation noted for this agent delivery method. Conclusions The results qualitatively confirmed the report by Yang et al and additionally showed hepatocyte vital staining. Research is needed to determine the threshold for the effects and the contrast agent dose response.