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Gray scale second harmonic imaging of acoustic emission signals improves detection of liver tumors in rabbits.
Author(s) -
Forsberg F,
Liu J B,
Merton D A,
Rawool N M,
Johnson D K,
Goldberg B B
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.7863/jum.2000.19.8.557
Subject(s) - medicine , angiography , radiology , nuclear medicine , pathology
This study evaluates a new reticuloendothelium specific sonographic contrast agent NC100100 (Sonazoid) for detection of liver VX‐2 tumors in rabbits. Gray scale imaging of five groups of three rabbits, with hepatic VX‐2 tumors implanted 7, 10, 12, 14, and 18 days previously, was performed prior to injection of Sonazoid (dosages, 0.01‐0.5 ml/kg). Sonazoid produces induced acoustic emission after uptake in the liver. Therefore, harmonic gray scale images were obtained immediately after injection as well as delayed (by up to 2(1/2) h). Five rabbits (one from each group) also had angiography performed, while all animals were evaluated by pathologic examination. Non‐contrast enhanced sonography detected 17 of 61 tumors (29%), as well as three false‐positives, while the addition of Sonazoid detected 57 tumors (93%) and one false‐positive (P<0.001). Acoustic emission made 2 x 2 mm tumors (invisible in conventional B‐mode sonography) clearly perceivable in harmonic gray scale. In the subgroup that received angiography, 12 of 36 tumors (33%) were detected with conventional sonography compared to 22 tumors (61%) seen with angiography (P = 0.002). After injection of Sonazoid the ultrasonographic detection rate increased to 97% (35 of 36 tumors), which was a significant improvement over angiography (P = 0.00024). Improved detection of hepatic VX‐2 tumors with second harmonic gray scale imaging of Sonazoid is possible because of this agent's acoustic emission capabilities.