title: Intraprocedure contrast enhanced ultrasound: the value in assessing the effect of ultrasound-guided high intensity focused ultrasound ablation for uterine fibroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the value of microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating the treatment response of uterine fibroids to HIFU ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight patients with a solitary uterine fibroid from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were included and analyzed. All patients underwent pre- and post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a standardized protocol, as well as pre-evaluation, intraprocedure, and immediate post-treatment CEUS. CEUS and MRI were compared by different radiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with MRI, CEUS showed that the size of fibroids, volume of fibroids, size of non-perfused regions, non-perfused volume (NPV) or fractional ablation (NPV ratio) was similar to that of MRI. In terms of CEUS examination results, the median volume of fibroids was 75.2 (interquartile range, 34.2-127.3) cm(3), the median non-perfused volume was 54.9 (interquartile range, 28.0-98.1) cm(3), the mean fractional ablation was 83.7±13.6 (range, 30.0-100.0)%. In terms of MRI examination results, the median volume of fibroids was 74.1 (interquartile range, 33.4-116.2) cm(3). On the basis of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images immediately after HIFU treatment, the median non-perfused volume was 58.5 (interquartile range, 27.7-100.0) cm(3), the average fractional ablation was 84.2±14.2 (range, 40.0-100.0)%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS clearly showed the size of fibroids and the non-perfused areas of the fibroid. Results from CEUS correlated well with results obtained from MRI.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors: Song
authors: S
authors: Peng
authors: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Hu
authors: Clinical Center for Tumor Therapy of 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Linjiang Road, Chongqing 400010, China.
authors: Wenzhi
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors: Jinyun
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: HIFU Center for Tumor Therapy of 1st Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors: Caiyong
authors: C
authors: Yang
authors: HIFU Center for Tumor Therapy of 1st Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: HIFU Center for Tumor Therapy of 1st Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Zhang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China. Electronic address: wangzb@cqmu.edu.cn.
authors: Zhibiao
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Engineering in Medicine Co-founded by Chongqing and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China. Electronic address: lianwzhang@yahoo.com.
authors: Lian
authors: L
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D045423:Microbubbles; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Microbubble contrast agents; SonoVue; Ultrasound-guided HIFU; Uterine fibroids