title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the detection and characterization of prostate cancer: correlation with microvessel density and Gleason score.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is a correlation between the peak intensity of the lesion at contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and the microvessel density (MVD) and Gleason score in biopsy specimens of prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using cadence-contrast pulse sequence (CPS) technology was performed in 147 patients with suspected prostate cancer before biopsy. An auto-tracking contrast quantification (ACQ) software was used to analyse the peak intensity (PI) of the lesion. The Gleason score and MVD immunoreactivity were determined in the prostate biopsy specimens. Ultrasound findings were correlated with biopsy findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prostate cancer was detected in 73 of 147 patients. The PI values of prostate cancer patients were significantly higher than those of non-malignant patients [9.81 (4.23) versus 5.69 (3.19) dB; p<0.01]. The mean (SD) PIs of prostate cancer lesions with a Gleason score of 6-9 were 7.08 (3.80), 8.65 (4.08), 9.76 (3.75), and 9.85 (4.13) dB, respectively. The PI value increased significantly with a higher Gleason score (p<0.01). The mean (SD) MVDs observed in prostate cancer lesions with a Gleason score of 6-9 were 52.50 (10.54), 56.85 (10.31), 59.91 (9.29), and 66.04 (11.82), respectively. There was a positive correlation between PI and MVD in prostate cancer, with a correlation coefficient of 0.617. No correlation was found between PI value and age, prostate specific antigen (PSA) or prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) level (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PI obtained by CPS harmonic ultrasonography appears to be of value as an indicator of MVD and increases with a higher Gleason score. CPS harmonic ultrasonography could be promising as a useful imaging technique in the detection and characterization of prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen