title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of cervical carcinoma: perfusion pattern and relationship with tumour angiogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and time-intensity curves to assess angiogenesis in cervical cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients who were scheduled to undergo radical surgery for biopsy-proven cervical cancers underwent CEUS. Surgical tissue sections from 32 patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed with CD34 staining to estimate intratumoral microvessel density (MVD). CEUS images were analyzed for maximum intensity (IMAX), rise time (RT), time to peak (TTP) and mean transit time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cervical lesions had a higher IMAX and shorter RT and TTP (p < 0.001) than reference regions. There was a linear association between the IMAX of the cervical lesion and the mean intratumoral MVD (r = 0.624, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in CEUS variables according to histological type, grade and stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative CEUS variables have potential use for monitoring perfusion changes in tumours after non-surgical therapy for advanced cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The article demonstrates the capability and value of quantitative CEUS as a non-invasive strategy for detecting the perfusion and angiogenic status of cervical cancer. Quantitative CEUS variables have potential use for monitoring tumour response to non-surgical therapy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Xing
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: An-Hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D045423:Microbubbles; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride