title: Quantification of intravenous contrast-enhanced Doppler power spectrum in the rabbit carotid artery.
abstract: In vivo evaluation of Doppler contrast agent (DCA) enhancement has been principally qualitative. To quantitate the enhancement of the Doppler signal by perflubron emulsion, an investigational DCA, the audio-Doppler signal from the rabbit carotid artery was recorded during 0.5-ml/kg incremental doses to a total dose of 2.5 ml/kg. A representation of the recorded signal intensity, the Doppler power spectrum (DPS), was determined using a personal computer and commercially available software package. The dose related enhancement from perflubron emulsion was linear (r = 0.986, p = 0.0124) with a 710% (8.5 dB) overall enhancement at 2.5 ml/kg (p = 0.0001). Significant differences in enhancement could be detected with doses as low as 1.0 ml/kg and compared favorably with observer assessment of dose-related enhancement. This relatively simple method of computer analysis can quantify in vivo Doppler signal intensity and enhancement by perflubron emulsion and may enable quantitative comparisons between different DCAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Frush
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Babcock
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003626:Data Display; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D011817:Rabbits; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; C003072:perflubron