title: A new method of measurement of cerebral circulation time: contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in healthy adults and patients with intracranial shunts.
abstract: Alterations in the cerebral circulation time (CCT) are observed in several cerebrovascular diseases. We designed a new method of global CCT measurement using gray-scale contrast-enhanced ultrasound and studied healthy Chinese adults and patients with intracranial shunts. Eighty-one healthy volunteers and eight patients with intracranial shunt disease were enrolled. The contrast agent Sonovue was used. Perfusion in the carotid artery and internal jugular vein bilaterally was recorded. Start and peak filling CCTs were calculated and analyzed. Imaging of carotid vessels was uncomplicated in all patients. The bilateral start CCT was 6.23 ± 1.39 s in healthy patients. There were no significant differences within subgroups and contrast-dosage groups. In the patient group, the mean start CCT was 3.0 ± 0.56 s. There was a significant difference between the control and patient groups (p < 0.001). This new method using gray-scale contrast imaging can measure CCT and cerebral blood volume accurately. It can be used to visualize blood flow differences in real time and is less dependent on the training of the operator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Yi Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Si Guo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Rui Jing
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound Diagnostics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: Duanyy@fmmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yun You
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D013997:Time Factors; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
keywords: Cerebral blood flow measurement; Cerebral circulation time; Contrast enhancement; Ultrasonography