Estimation of intra-operator variability in perfusion parameter measurements using DCE-US

• Published in: World journal of radiology 2011-03, Vol.3 (3), p.70-81
• Main Authors: Gauthier, Marianne, Leguerney, Ingrid, Thalmensi, Jessie, Chebil, Mohamed, Parisot, Sarah, Peronneau, Pierre, Roche, Alain, Lassau, Nathalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: contrast-enhanced; data; Dynamic; Engineering Sciences; Functional; imaging; Intra-operator; Linear; Original; parameters; perfusion; Quantification; raw; Semi-quantitative; ultrasonography; variability
• ISSN: 1949-8470; 1949-8470
• DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v3.i3.70

AIM:To investigate intra-operator variability of semiquantitative perfusion parameters using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(DCE-US),following bolus injections of SonoVue.METHODS:The in vitro experiments were conducted using three in-house sets up based on pumping a fluid through a phantom placed in a water tank.In the in vivo experiments,B16F10 melanoma cells were xenografted to five nude mice.Both in vitro and in vivo,images were acquired following bolus injections of the ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue(Bracco,Milan,Italy) and using a Toshiba Aplio ultrasound scanner connected to a 2.9-5.8 MHz linear transducer(PZT,PLT 604AT probe)(Toshiba,Japan) allowing harmonic imaging("Vascular Recognition Imaging") involving linear raw data.A mathematical model based on the dye-dilution theory was developed by the Gustave Roussy Institute,Villejuif,France and used to evaluate seven perfusion parameters from time-intensity curves.Intra-operator variability analyses were based on determining perfusion parameter coefficients of variation(CV).RESULTS:In vitro,different volumes of SonoVue were tested with the three phantoms:intra-operator variability was found to range from 2.33% to 23.72%.In vivo,experiments were performed on tumor tissues and perfusion parameters exhibited values ranging from 1.48% to 29.97%.In addition,the area under the curve(AUC) and the area under the wash-out(AUWO) were two of the parameters of great interest since throughout in vitro and in vivo experiments their variability was lower than 15.79%.CONCLUSION:AUC and AUWO appear to be the most reliable parameters for assessing tumor perfusion using DCE-US as they exhibited the lowest CV values.