Transcranial contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Sonazoid in semiquantitative evaluation of brain perfusion.
OBJECTIVE
To semiquantitatively evaluate brain perfusion by transcranial contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (TCEUS) using Sonazoid.


METHODS
We performed TCEUS in 11 healthy volunteers and seven patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease involving the anterior circulation. After recording first-pass perfusion images on one side of the head and flush-replenishment (FR) images on both sides, we measured the time from arrival to peak (TAP) and peak intensity (PI) at first pass. Using the FR method, plateau value (A) and rise rate (β) of intensity (I) were obtained from the curve I(t) = A(1 - e (-β*t) ).


RESULTS
In the patients, TAP was longer and PI was smaller in middle cerebral artery (MCA) areas than in posterior cerebral artery (PCA) areas on the ipsilesional side of the head (p < 0.05). A and β were smaller in MCA areas than in PCA areas on the ipsilesional side of the head (p < 0.05), while these parameters showed no apparent differences between MCA and PCA areas in the volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
TCEUS with Sonazoid allows effective semiquantitative evaluation of brain perfusion.
Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8522, Japan. ksaito@hsp.ncvc.go.jp.
Kozue
K
Saito
Department of Endoscopy and Ultrasound, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
Toshiko
T
Hirai
Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8522, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Ueno
Brain ischemia; Transcranial ultrasound perfusion imaging; Ultrasound contrast agent