Semiquantitative human cerebral perfusion assessment with ultrasound in brain space-occupying lesions: preliminary data.
OBJECTIVE
Transcranial Duplex ultrasound imaging with ultrasound contrast agents is an emerging technique for evaluating brain perfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate cerebral perfusion with ultrasound in brain space-occupying lesions to identify different perfusion patterns.


METHODS
Twenty patients with brain space-occupying lesions underwent ultrasound assessment of brain perfusion with a contrast pulse sequencing nonharmonic ultrasound technique and an ultrasound contrast agent bolus. Data were analyzed with software for semiquantitative analysis.


RESULTS
Contrast pulse sequencing imaging with the semiquantitative analysis software allowed identification of qualitative and semiquantitative brain perfusion. Brain hemorrhages showed lower or absent perfusion compared with normal tissue. Meningiomas and glioblastomas without large necrotic areas showed higher perfusion compared with normal tissue. Glioblastomas with large necrotic areas showed overall reduced perfusion compared with normal tissue but higher than that of brain hemorrhages. In glioblastomas with large necrotic areas, it was possible to distinguish between solid and necrotic tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
This bedside ultrasound technique, if validated by larger-scale studies, may add helpful information in noninvasive staging of brain tumors. Further potential applications may be in follow-up imaging to evaluate postoperative tumor recurrence or the presence of radionecrosis.
Vicenzini
Edoardo
E
Department of Neurological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. edoardo.vicenzini@uniroma1.it
Delfini
Roberto
R
Magri
Francesca
F
Puccinelli
Francesco
F
Altieri
Marta
M
Santoro
Antonio
A
Giannoni
Maria Fabrizia
MF
Bozzao
Luigi
L
Di Piero
Vittorio
V
Lenzi
Gian Luigi
GL
D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D045423:Microbubbles; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009336:Necrosis; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / Q000379:methods; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media