JUM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Video
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Vicenzini, E.
Right arrow Articles by Lenzi, G. L.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Vicenzini, E.
Right arrow Articles by Lenzi, G. L.
© 2008 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 27:685-692 • 0278-4297

Semiquantitative Human Cerebral Perfusion Assessment With Ultrasound in Brain Space-Occupying Lesions

Preliminary Data

Edoardo Vicenzini, MD, PhD, Roberto Delfini, MD, Francesca Magri, MSc, Francesco Puccinelli, MD, Marta Altieri, MD, PhD, Antonio Santoro, MD, Maria Fabrizia Giannoni, MD, Luigi Bozzao, MD, Vittorio Di Piero, MD, PhD and Gian Luigi Lenzi, MD

Departments of Neurological Sciences (E.V., F.P., M.A., V.D.P., G.L.L.), Neurosurgery (R.D., A.S.), Paride Stefanini, Vascular Surgery (M.F.G.), and Neuroradiology (L.B.), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; and Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy (F.M.).

Address correspondence to Edoardo Vicenzini, MD, PhD, Department of Neurological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. E-mail: edoardo.vicenzini{at}uniroma1.it

Objective. Transcranial Duplex ultrasound imaging with ultrasound contrast agents is an emerging technique for evaluating brain perfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate cerebral perfusion with ultrasound in brain space-occupying lesions to identify different perfusion patterns. Methods. Twenty patients with brain space-occupying lesions underwent ultrasound assessment of brain perfusion with a contrast pulse sequencing nonharmonic ultrasound technique and an ultrasound contrast agent bolus. Data were analyzed with software for semiquantitative analysis. Results. Contrast pulse sequencing imaging with the semiquantitative analysis software allowed identification of qualitative and semiquantitative brain perfusion. Brain hemorrhages showed lower or absent perfusion compared with normal tissue. Meningiomas and glioblastomas without large necrotic areas showed higher perfusion compared with normal tissue. Glioblastomas with large necrotic areas showed overall reduced perfusion compared with normal tissue but higher than that of brain hemorrhages. In glioblastomas with large necrotic areas, it was possible to distinguish between solid and necrotic tissue. Conclusions. This bedside ultrasound technique, if validated by larger-scale studies, may add helpful information in noninvasive staging of brain tumors. Further potential applications may be in follow-up imaging to evaluate postoperative tumor recurrence or the presence of radionecrosis.

Key Words: brain tumors • cerebral perfusion • contrast pulse sequencing • Qontrast software • ultrasound

Abbreviations: CBF, cerebral blood flow • CBV, cerebral blood volume • CPS, contrast pulse sequencing • CT, computed tomography • MCA, middle cerebral artery • MRI, magnetic resonance imaging • MTT, mean transit time • PET, positron emission tomography • PI, peak intensity • ROI, region of interest • TTP, time to peak • UCA, ultrasound contrast agent

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.