Objective To evaluate the real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal occupying lesions. Methods Thirty patients with retroperitoneal occupying lesions, including 10 benign and 20 malignant lesions, were performed with CEUS, thus describing the perfusion of contrast agent, the entering style of contrast agent and the vascular morphous. And the entering styles were divided into two patterns: peripheral type or central type while the vascular morphous were divided into 4 levels: level 0, level 1, level 2 and level 3. All of these were compared between benign and malignant lesions. Compared the results of diagnosis malignant lesions by common ultrasonography with CEUS. Results 1/5 case of benign substantive lesions presented as contrast agent perfusion defect, and 11/20 cases of substantive malignant lesions presented as contrast agent perfusion defect. 14/20 of malignant lesions were central type; 9/10 of benign lesions were peripheral type (P=0.005 2). In benign lesions, level 0 had 7/10， level 1 had 2/10 and level 3 had 1/10. In malignant lesions, level 0 had 1/20, level 1 had 3/20, level 2 had 8/20 and level 3 had 8/20, too (P=0.000 5). The rate of missed diagnosis was 40.00% and the accuracy was 66.67% by common ultrasonography, while the rate of missed diagnosis was 10.00% and the accuracy was 86.67% by CEUS combined with the entering style of contrast agent and the vascular morphous. Conclusion The CEUS applies a new way to discriminate malignant from benign in retroperitoneal occupying lesions.
Vascular perfusion distribution in fibroids contrast-enhanced ultrasound images provides useful pathological and physiological information, because the extraction of the vascular perfusion area can be helpful to quantitative evaluation of uterine fibroids blood supply. The pixel gray scale in vascular perfusion area of fibroids contrast-enhanced ultrasound image sequences is different from that in other regions, and, based on this, we proposed a method of extracting vascular perfusion area of fibroids. Firstly, we denoised the image sequence, and then we used Brox optical flow method to estimate motion of two adjacent frames, based on the results of the displacement field for motion correction. Finally, we extracted vascular perfusion region from the surrounding background based on the differences in gray scale for the magnitude of the rich blood supply area and lack of blood supply area in ultrasound images sequence. The experimental results showed that the algorithm could accurately extract the vascular perfusion area, reach the precision of identification of clinical perfusion area, and only small amount of calculation was needed and the process was fairly simple.
Objective To determine the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differentiation of primary liver cancer (PLC) and hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). Methods The data of 56 patients with PLC or HAE were collected between January 2010 and May 2015. Grayscale and CEUS features of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. The frequency of each imaging finding, including calcification, arterial enhancement, and internal enhancement were evaluated and compared. Results Statistically significant difference of the proportion of gender and age were detected between the two groups (P=0.013, 0.002). Thirty-eight PLC lesions were detected in 32 patients. The diameters of PLC lesions were 3-10 cm with an average of (5.6±2.1) cm. Thirty-two HAE lesions were found in 24 patients. The diameters of HAE lesions were 4-12 cm with an average of (9.1±4.4) cm. Statistically significant difference of lesion size and the incidence rate of calcification (5.3% vs. 75.0%) were seen between PLC and HAE (P<0.001). Peripheral enhancement were seen in 100.0% (38/38) PLC lesions, including 84.2% (32/38) hyperenhancement and 15.8% (6/38) dendritic hyperenhancement. All PLC lesions demonstrated hypoenhancement in late phase. Irregular peripherally hyperenhancement both in arterial and late phase were detected in 43.8% (14/32) HAE lesions. The other 56.2% (18/32) HAE lesions showed no peripheral enhancement both in arterial and late phase. No internal enhancement were seen in HAE lesions. The presence of arterial enhancement (100.0% vs. 43.8%) and absence of internal enhancement (0 vs. 100.0%) were significantly different between PLC and HAE (P<0.001). Conclusions PLC is predicted by arterial phase hyperenhancement and late phase hypoenhancement on CEUS. HAE is predicted with calcification on baseline sonography and internal non-enhancement on CEUS. Arterial phase enhancement is less common and less intensive in HAE than in PLC which also contributes to the differentiation of these lesions.
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of ultrasonic microbubble combined with bevacizumab (Avastin) on choroidal neovascularization induced by photocoagulation in rabbits.Methods CNV was induced by photocoagulation with argon laser in 30 rabbits (60 eyes).All of the rabbits underwent fundus fluorecein angiography (FFA) 21 days after photocoagulation; 6-8 hours later, 3 rabbits were randomly chosen to be executed to having the immunohistochemical examination.Twenty one days after photocoagulation, 27 rabbits were divided randomly into 3 groups: bevacizumb, ultrasonic microbubble + bevacizumb,and control group; each group has 9 rabbits (18 eyes).The rabbits in control group had no interference treatment; while the rats in bevacizumb and ultrasonic microbubble + bevacizumb group underwent injection with bevacizumb or ultrasonic microbubble + bevacizumb respectively.FFA was performed on all of the rabbits 7,14,and 28 days after photocoagulation to observe the inhibition of CNV; immunofluorecence and Western blot were used to detect the expression of VEGF in retina and choroid.Twentyeight days is the time point to determine the therapeutic efficacy. The expression of VEGF and the results of FFA were the sdandards of the judgement of therapeutic efficacy.Results Proliferaion of CNV to the retinal inner layer and the obvious leakage of fluoresein in the photocoagulation area indicated that the model of CNV was set up successfully. Twenty eight days after injection,obvious fluorescent leakage was found in the control group, and the average fluorescent leakage in bevacizumab group differed much from the control group（t=16.2952，Plt;0.05）; while the difference between ultrasonic microbubble + bevacizumb group and bevacizumab group was also significant (t=4.7955，Plt;0.05) . At the same time point, the expression of VEGF in bevacizumab group detected by immunofluorecent assay and Western blot differed much from the control group (t=7.0327，9.2596；Plt;0.05),and the difference of VEGF between ultrasonic microbubble + bevacizumb group and bevacizumab group was significant（t=2.9724,17.1937；Plt;0.05）. this experiment show that ultrasound combined bevacizumab intravitreal injection of the therapeutic effect of CNV superior to other groups(Plt;0.01).Conclusion Ultrasound microbubble combined with bevacizumab injection may improve the therapeutic effect on CNV by inhibiting the expression of VEGF.
Objective To investigate the enhancing effect of ultrasound microbubbles on transfection of recombinant adenoassociated virus (rAAV) mediated green fluorecent protein (EGFP) gene into retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in vivo.Methods A total of 40 adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups randomly (group A,B,C,D) with 10 rats in each. Group A was the normal control, in which the rats underwent intravitreal injection with 5 mu;l phosphate buffered solution. The rats in group B underwent intravitreal injection with 5 mu;l recombinant adenoassociated virus encoding EGFP gene (rAAV2-EGFP). The rats in group C underwent ultrasound irradiation on eyes right after intravitreal injection with 5 mu;l rAAV2-EGFP; The ultrasound irradiation was performed on the rats in group D right after intravitreal injection with the mixture solution of microbubbles and rAAV2-EGFP ultrasound. After 21 days, RGC were labeled retogradely with fluogold. Seven days after labeling, the retinal flatmounts and frozen sections were made from five rats in each group. Expression of EGFP reporter gene was observed by laser scanning confocal microscope and evaluated via average optical intensity (AOD) and RGC transfection rate. Labeled RGC were counted to evaluate the adverse effects.Results Green fluorescence can be observed exactly in labeled RGC in B，C，and D groups. The AOD and transfection rate in group D was （95.02plusmn;7.25）% and（20.10plusmn;0.74）% , respectively; which were higher than those in group B and C (F=25.970，25.799；P＜0.01). The difference of the number of RGC among the four groups was not significant(F=0.877,P＞0.05). Conclusion Under the condition of low frequency and with certain energy, ultrasoundmediated microbubble destruction can effectively and safely enhance rAAV delivery to RGC in rats.
目的 探讨超声造影对门静脉癌栓和血栓的鉴别诊断价值。方法 应用超声造影剂（SonoVue）对16例门静脉癌栓及8例门静脉血栓行实时低机械指数超声造影，观察并分析其造影增强特征。 结果 16例癌栓超声造影动脉相10例呈整体均匀性增强，2例呈整体不均匀性增强，2例呈整体轻度增强，2例栓子一部分增强，另一部分无增强； 门脉相特别是门脉相晚期和延迟相14例栓子呈充盈缺损状态，2例栓子仍呈轻微强化。4例常规彩超检查未能检出动脉血流信号而不能确诊的癌栓，超声造影均显示其动脉相增强。8例血栓行超声造影后整个造影过程栓子均未见增强。结论 超声造影可敏感地反映门静脉栓子的血流灌注，门静脉癌栓和血栓在超声造影后有显著的特征，有助于两者的鉴别诊断。
Conventional transcatheter aortic valve replacement is normally recommended with transthoracic echocardiography, and contrast agent mediated fluoroscopy under anesthesia to guide a better implantation of the transcatheter valve. However, iodine-containing contrast agent possibly damages the patient’s kidney, and even induces the acute kidney injury. We reported a 75-year-old patient diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, moderate regurgitation, and chronic renal failure. We performed the aortic valve replacement under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal ultrasound without contrast agent. Seven days after surgery, the patient recovered well and discharged with alleviated aortic stenosis and fixed transcatheter aortic valve.
Objective To investigate the value of new double-phasic MR contrast agent (gadobenate dimeglumine， Gd-BOPTA) in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with correlation of pathology. Methods MRI scan was performed on 33 patients suspected of having focal liver lesions by CT or ultrasonography. The MRI scan protocol included routine axial T1WI and T2WI, coronal T2WI and 3D-MRCP, Gd-BOPTA enhanced 3D gradient-echo sequence of T1W (LAVA sequence) acquiring dynamic data at 15 s, 55 s and 90 s respectively, delayed LAVA acquisition at 5 min, 10 min, and at 40 min, 80 min respectively. Surgical specimen was collected for pathological analysis. Results Surgery confirmed the diagnosis of HCC in 21 patients with 27 lesions. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MR imaging with combined phases (including hemodynamic phase and hepatobiliary phase) were 92.9%,93.3%, 92.9% respectively. ①In the hemodynamic phase: 22 lesions showed early enhancement in arterial phase, fast “washout” in portal venous phase, and hypointense in delayed phase. Four lesions showed slight enhancement, while 1 lesion showed no enhancement in all hemodynamic phases. ②In the hepatobiliary phase: 23 lesions showed homogeneous hypointensity compared to the enhanced liver background, but 4 lesions (3 well-differentiated and 1 moderately-differentiated) had patchy or dot-like slightly hyperintense areas scattered within the lesions. Pathologically cholestatic changes of tumor cells were observed and bile-containing small ducts were present. Conclusion Gd-BOPTA enhanced MRI can both depict the hemodynamic characteristics and reflect the absence of normal hepatocyte function in HCC lesions, thus contributing greatly to the diagnosis of HCC.