title: Assessment of quantitative perfusion parameters by dynamic contrast-enhanced sonography using a deconvolution method: an in vitro and in vivo study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the arterial input on perfusion parameters measured using dynamic contrast-enhanced sonography combined with a deconvolution method after bolus injections of a contrast agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  The in vitro experiments were conducted using a custom-made setup consisting of pumping a fluid through a phantom made of 3 intertwined silicone pipes, mimicking a complex structure akin to that of vessels in a tumor, combined with their feeding pipe, mimicking the arterial input. In the in vivo experiments, B16F10 melanoma cells were xenografted to 5 nude mice. An ultrasound scanner combined with a linear transducer was used to perform pulse inversion imaging based on linear raw data throughout the experiments. A mathematical model developed by the Gustave Roussy Institute (patent WO/2008/053268) and based on the dye dilution theory was used to evaluate 7 semiquantitative perfusion parameters directly from time-intensity curves and 3 quantitative perfusion parameters from the residue function obtained after a deconvolution process developed in our laboratory based on the Tikhonov regularization method. We evaluated and compared the intraoperator variability values of perfusion parameters determined after these two signal-processing methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro, semiquantitative perfusion parameters exhibited intraoperator variability values ranging from 3.39% to 13.60%. Quantitative parameters derived after the deconvolution process ranged from 4.46% to 11.82%. In vivo, tumors exhibited perfusion parameter intraoperator variability values ranging from 3.74% to 29.34%, whereas quantitative ones varied from 5.00% to 12.43%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking into account the arterial input in evaluating perfusion parameters improves the intraoperator variability and may improve the dynamic contrast-enhanced sonographic technique.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Imagerie du Petit Animal, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Institut Gustave Roussy, Pavillon de Recherche I, 39 rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805 Villejuif, France. marianne.gauthier@igr.fr
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabarout
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leguerney
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polrot
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pitre
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peronneau
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lassau
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008954:Models, Biological; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010743:Phospholipids; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride