[Visualization of brain perfusion by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: preliminary study in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the usefulness of an agent for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (galactose parmitine acid: Levovist) in visualizing brain perfusion in rabbits.


METHODS
Six rabbits were involved in this study. A hole in the skull bone was made under anesthesia and used as an acoustic window. An ischemic model (3 of 6 rabbits) was made by surgically occluding the M1 portion of the middle cerebral artery. Power Doppler images (PDI) and B-mode Harmonic images (HI) before and after intravenous injections of the contrast medium (150 mg/body) were obtained using the HDI5000 (ATL) equipped with a linear-type 5-12 Mhz probe.


RESULTS
Smaller arteries were clearly visualized by contrast-enhanced PDI. However, enhancement of brain parenchyma was not clear on PDI. Enhancement of brain parenchyma was observed clearly on contrast-enhanced HI. Enhancement was strong during the first pass and then diminished quickly. In ischemic models, hypoperfusion in the right cerebral hemisphere (the occluded side) were clearly observed on contrast-enhanced HI.


CONCLUSIONS
Brain perfusion in rabbits can be observed on contrast-enhanced Harmonic ultrasonographic imaging. It is suggested to be useful for human clinical cases, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury in infants.
Ishikura
Reiichi
R
Department of Radiology, Hyogo College of Medicine.
Ando
Kumiko
K
Nagami
Yuki
Y
Takada
Yoshihiro
Y
Morikawa
Tsutomu
T
Nakao
Norio
N
Ozaki
Isao
I
Fukumita
Munetake
M
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005260:Female; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011817:Rabbits; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508