Contrast enhanced ultrasound for radio frequency ablation of canine prostates: initial results.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the feasibility of contrast enhanced ultrasound for radio frequency ablation of the entire prostate as a method of minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer in a canine model.


METHODS
Approval of the Institutional Animal Use and Care committee was obtained. Initially 5 dogs (group 1) were tested using variable power (5 to 30 W), time (4 to 12 minutes), bolus (0.01 to 0.04 ml/kg) and infusion (3 to 11 ml per minute at 0.015 microl/kg) injections of an ultrasound contrast agent with conventional grayscale power Doppler and pulse inversion harmonic imaging to establish optimal parameters. Subsequently 4 dogs (group 2) underwent entire prostate ablation using parameters based on group 1. The size of the thermal lesions and residual viable tissue was measured with ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) on ultrasound and pathological study. Linear regression and Student's t test were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
A bolus of 0.04 ml/kg, an infusion of 11 ml per minute at 0.015 microl/kg and the contrast enhanced pulse inversion harmonic imaging mode were ranked best for guiding ablation. Thermal lesion volume was proportional to ablation power and time. There was no significant difference in measured thermal lesion size in group 1 between ultrasound and pathological findings (mean +/- SD 1.51 +/- 0.74 and 1.46 +/- 0.74 cm3, p = 0.56) or in residual viable tissue in group 2 (0.43 +/- 0.043 and 0.41 +/- 0.291 cm3, p = 0.21). The average volume of prostate ablation achieved in group 2 was 96.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast enhanced pulse inversion harmonic imaging is able to guide, monitor and control radio frequency ablation of the entire prostate.
Liu
Ji-Bin
JB
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. ji-bin.liu@jefferson.edu
Merton
Daniel A
DA
Wansaicheong
Gervais
G
Forsberg
Flemming
F
Edmonds
Pamela R
PR
Deng
Xue-Dong
XD
Luo
Yan
Y
Needleman
Laurence
L
Halpern
Ethan
E
Goldberg
Barry B
BB
D000818:Animals; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004285:Dogs; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019160:Endosonography; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C069727:Sonazoid; D007501:Iron