title: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Using Perfluorobutane-Containing Microbubbles in the Assessment of Liver Allograft Damage: An Exploratory Prospective Study.
abstract: This prospective study investigated the usefulness of contrast (perfluorobutane-containing microbubbles)-enhanced ultrasound in the non-invasive assessment of liver allograft damage. Forty-one liver recipients underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound followed by a liver biopsy. The hepatic filling rate (time between the arrival of contrast agent in the right hepatic artery and the maximum intensity of hepatic parenchyma) and parenchymal intensity difference before and after instantaneous high-power emission in the Kupffer phase were measured. Patients with allograft damage had higher hepatic filling rates and lower parenchymal intensity differences than those without damage (42.0 ± 16.9 vs. 30.5 ± 7.7 s, p = 0.005; 6.1 ± 7.4 vs. 16.6 ± 16.1 dB, p = 0.047, respectively). In the diagnosis of liver allograft damage, hepatic filling rate and parenchymal intensity difference had sensitivities of 61.5% and 90.9% and specificities of 92.6% and 63.6% using cutoffs of >38.5 s and ≤10.3 dB, respectively. In conclusion, contrast-enhanced ultrasound may be a promising tool in the detection of liver allograft damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ijin
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: leejy4u@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sejong General Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Joon
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Woong
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C108042:perfluorobutane
keywords: Allograft damage; Biopsy; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Liver transplantation; Perfluorobutane