Evaluation of joint effusion in rabbits by color Doppler, power Doppler, and contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) and contrast-enhanced PDUS (CEPDUS) in the depiction and characterization of experimentally induced arthritis in the rabbit.


METHODS
Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups consisting of one control group (saline injection group) and two experimental groups: a suppurative arthritis group and a chemically induced synovitis group. The same amount (1 ml) of each agent was directly injected into the right hip joint. Serial color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), PDUS, and CEPDUS images were obtained before and after injection.


RESULTS
We observed that all of the infected knees in the suppurative arthritis group with Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated an increased signal on PDUS after inoculation. A minimal power Doppler signal was presented in the chemically induced synovitis group with talc injection, but none of the control knees demonstrated any increased signals. CEPDUS was the most sensitive imaging modality for evaluating the increase of blood flows in suppurative arthritis and was subsequently followed by PDUS and CDUS.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased signals obtained with PDUS represent increased local blood flows; therefore, this technique can be used for evaluating the degree of inflammation. Furthermore, using the contrast agent enhances the sensitivity of PDUS, and it can even be useful for differentiating borderline cases.
Lim
Gye-Yeon
GY
Department of Radiology, St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Im
Soo Ah
SA
Jung
Won Sang
WS
Lee
Jae Mun
JM
Lee
Ah Won
AW
D000818:Animals; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011817:Rabbits; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013585:Synovitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013627:Talc; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
D003287:Contrast Media; D013627:Talc