Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided Sentinel lymph node biopsy of the ocular conjunctiva.

Objectives/hypothesis: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been utilized for cutaneous melanoma and other malignancies arising from the eye and ocular adnexa. Currently, SLNB requires blue dyes and/or radiopharmaceuticals; both of which have significant shortcomings. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of SLNB with the use of real-time, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as an alternative technique for tumors arising in the conjunctiva.

Contrast-enhanced sonography for detection of secondary lymph nodes in a melanoma tumor animal model.

Objectives: To investigate the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (US) for detection of secondary lymph nodes (LNs) in a naturally occurring melanoma swine model compared to surgery and pathologic assessment.

Methods: Twenty-seven Sinclair swine were studied. The perfluorobutane microbubble contrast agent Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) was administered (1.

Safety of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in children for non-cardiac applications: a review by the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) and the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS).

The practice of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in children is in the setting of off-label use or research. The widespread practice of pediatric contrast-enhanced US is primarily in Europe. There is ongoing effort by the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) and International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) to push for pediatric contrast-enhanced US in the United States.

Guidelines and good clinical practice recommendations for Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the liver - update 2012: A WFUMB-EFSUMB initiative in cooperation with representatives of AFSUMB, AIUM, ASUM, FLAUS and ICUS.

Initially, a set of guidelines for the use of ultrasound contrast agents was published in 2004 dealing only with liver applications. A second edition of the guidelines in 2008 reflected changes in the available contrast agents and updated the guidelines for the liver, as well as implementing some non-liver applications. Time has moved on, and the need for international guidelines on the use of CEUS in the liver has become apparent.

White Paper Report of the 2010 RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries: identifying sustainable strategies for imaging services in the developing world.

The 2010 RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries was a multidisciplinary meeting to discuss data, experiences, and models pertaining to radiology in the developing world, where widespread shortages of imaging services reduce health care quality. The theme of this year's conference was sustainability, with a focus on establishing and maintaining imaging services in resource-limited regions. Conference presenters and participants identified 4 important components of sustainability: (1) sustainable financing models for radiology development, (2) integration of radiology and public health, (3) sustainable clinical models and technology solutions for resource-limited regions, and (4) education and training of both developing and developed world health care personnel.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of sentinel lymph nodes after peritumoral administration of Sonazoid in a melanoma tumor animal model.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare lymphosonography (ie, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging [US] after interstitial injection of a US contrast agent) for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in swine with naturally occurring melanoma tumors to lymphoscintigraphy using blue dye-guided surgical dissection as the reference standard. Also, we sought to determine if lymphosonography can be used to characterize SLNs.

Methods: Sixty-three swine with 104 melanomas were evaluated.

Contrast enhanced maximum intensity projection ultrasound imaging for assessing angiogenesis in murine glioma and breast tumor models: A comparative study.

The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare noninvasive, quantitative measures of vascularity obtained from four contrast enhanced ultrasound (US) techniques to four invasive immunohistochemical markers of tumor angiogenesis in a large group of murine xenografts. Glioma (C6) or breast cancer (NMU) cells were implanted in 144 rats. The contrast agent Optison (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ) was injected in a tail vein (dose: 0.

White Paper Report of the RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries: identifying challenges, opportunities, and strategies for imaging services in the developing world.

The RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries was an assembly of individuals and organizations interested in improving access to medical imaging services in developing countries where the availability of radiology has been inadequate for both patient care and public health programs. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss data, experiences, and models pertaining to radiology in the developing world and to evaluate potential opportunities for future collaboration. Conference participants included radiologists, technologists, faculty members of academic medical institutions, and leadership of nongovernmental organizations involved in international health care and social entrepreneurship.

Comparing image processing techniques for improved 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare volumetric image processing techniques for reducing noise and speckle while retaining tissue structures in 3-dimensional (3D) gray scale ultrasound imaging.

Methods: Eighty subjects underwent a clinically indicated abdominal or obstetric 3D ultrasound examination (20 hepatic, 20 renal, and 40 obstetric cases). Volume data were processed on a pixel ("2-dimensional [2D] processing") or a voxel ("3D processing") basis using commercially available image enhancement software (ContextVision AB, Linköping, Sweden).

Evaluation of US training for the past 6 years at ECUREI, the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) Centre of Excellence, Kampala, Uganda.

Rationale And Objectives: The objectives of this article are: To explore the impact of the Radiological Society of North America-sponsored "Teach the Teachers" training course and other capacity building interventions (CBIs) on Uganda's ultrasound (US) training capacity; compare performance of students undertaking a modular diploma ultrasound course to the non-modular; and compare performance among various health cadres undertaking US training.

Materials And Methods: The impact of the "Teach the Teachers" training course and other capacity building interventions were evaluated through analysis of the planning, implementation, sustainability, and output of the training center. Comparison of students' performance in the modular and non-modular diploma courses was by a retrospective cohort methodology using odds ratios.

Thyroid lymphosonography: a novel method for evaluating lymphatic drainage.

Objectives: We evaluated lymphosonography, or contrast-enhanced, ultrasonography (US)-guided sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection, as a technique for demonstrating the lymphatic drainage of the thyroid gland.

Methods: In this prospective animal study, four 50-kg Yorkshire swine underwent transcutaneous injection of a US contrast agent and methylene blue dye into the thyroid gland. Contrast-enhanced US was used to identify draining lymphatic channels and SLNs.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound: what is the evidence and what are the obstacles?

Objective: Although ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) are popular and widely used in Europe and Asia, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved a microbubble agent for radiology imaging in the United States.

Effectiveness of "teaching the teachers" initiative for ultrasound training in Africa.

Rationale And Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive educational program that trained a group of physicians in diagnostic ultrasound (US), so that they would return to their respective countries to train others with the intent of helping to standardize knowledge and improve the quality of US in Africa. Additionally, to compare the effectiveness of this program to that of a similar, but larger, program.

Materials And Methods: Twelve physicians from sub-Saharan Africa were selected for an intensive 3-month training program sponsored by Radiological Society of North America Research and Education Foundation Grant in all aspects of diagnostic US.

Lymphosonographic sentinel node biopsy of the supraglottis in a swine model.

Objective: To test the feasibility of a novel contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) technique, or lymphosonography, for sentinel node biopsy (SNB) of the supraglottis in a porcine model.

Study Design And Setting: In this prospective, nonrandomized animal study, blue dye and ultrasound contrast agent were injected into the supraglottis in seven 50-kg Yorkshire swine. Transcutaneous CEUS was used to identify real-time lymphatic flow of contrast through lymph channels (LC) to the sentinel lymph node (SLN).

Comparing contrast-enhanced color flow imaging and pathological measures of breast lesion vascularity.

This study was conducted to compare quantifiable measures of vascularity obtained from contrast-enhanced color flow images of breast lesions to pathologic vascularity measurements. Nineteen patients with solid breast masses received Levovist Injection (10 mL at 300 mg/mL; Berlex Laboratories, Montville, NJ, USA). Color flow images of the mass pre and post contrast were obtained using an HDI 3000 scanner (Philips Medical Systems, Bothell, WA, USA) optimized for clinical scanning on an individual basis.

Ultrasound-guided contrast-enhanced sentinel node biopsy of the head and neck in a porcine model.

Objective: To test the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) of the head and neck in a porcine model.

Study Design And Setting: In this prospective, nonrandomized study, methylene blue and Sonazoid were injected into the lateral tongue or floor of mouth (FOM) of four swine. Real-time CEUS was used to identify contrast in the lymphatic channels flowing to the sentinel lymph node (SLN).

Contrast enhanced ultrasound for radio frequency ablation of canine prostates: initial results.

Purpose: We determined the feasibility of contrast enhanced ultrasound for radio frequency ablation of the entire prostate as a method of minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer in a canine model.

Materials And Methods: Approval of the Institutional Animal Use and Care committee was obtained. Initially 5 dogs (group 1) were tested using variable power (5 to 30 W), time (4 to 12 minutes), bolus (0.

The influence of acoustic transmit parameters on the destruction of contrast microbubbles in vitro.

In this study, the destruction of the contrast agent Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) was measured in vitro as a function of centre frequency (2-3 MHz), acoustic amplitude (0.66-1.6 MPa), pulse length (2-16 cycles) and PRF (0.

In vivo pressure estimation using subharmonic contrast microbubble signals: proof of concept.

Changes in ambient pressure affects the reflectivity of ultrasound contrast microbubbles leading to an excellent correlation between subharmonic signals and hydrostatic pressure. The aortas of two dogs were scanned with an experimental pulse-echo system to validate in vivo pressure estimation based on subharmonic microbubble signals. Results matched well with instantaneous pressure measurements (from 20-60 mmHg) obtained simultaneously with a pressure catheter (root mean square errors <27%).

Contrast-enhanced sonographic imaging of lymphatic channels and sentinel lymph nodes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether lymphatic channels (LCs) and sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) could be detected on sonographic imaging after subcutaneous, submucosal, or parenchymal injections of a sonographic contrast agent (ie, lymphosonography) in a variety of anatomic locations in several animal models.

Methods: Eight swine, 7 canines, 4 rabbits, and a monkey were used for these evaluations. Gray scale pulse inversion harmonic imaging of the LCs and the SLNs was performed after subcutaneous (n = 58), submucosal (n = 14), or parenchymal (n = 8) injections of a tissue-specific sonographic contrast agent (Sonazoid; GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway).

On the usefulness of the mechanical index displayed on clinical ultrasound scanners for predicting contrast microbubble destruction.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical index (MI) displayed on clinical ultrasound scanners as a predictor of exposure conditions related to the destruction of sonographic microbubble contrast agents.

Methods: Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) and Optison (GE Healthcare, Princeton, NJ) microbubbles were injected into a tissue-mimicking flow phantom. Gray scale imaging was performed with 4 different scanners and 3 different transducers (3.

Effect of shell type on the in vivo backscatter from polymer-encapsulated microbubbles.

This study compared in vivo enhancement from four different polymer-encapsulated ultrasound (US) contrast agents. The agents were produced with a rigid shell composed of the biodegradable block copolymer poly[D,L-lactide-co-glycolide] (PLGA) with the lactic and glycolic acid ratios 50:50, 75:25, 85:15 and 100:0 (i.e.