Quantitative assessment of in vivo backscatter enhancement from gelatin microspheres.

Experimental work using a quantitative C-scan technique to measure in situ enhancement of hepatic backscatter resulting from the administration of gelatin microspheres to dogs is reported. We have found that reproducible enhancement of hepatic backscatter on the order of 2 dB followed the peripheral administration of gelatin within minutes, the magnitude of the effect was not sensitive to the rate of infusion, but was likely to be dose dependent, changes in the overlying tissue attenuation had a pronounced effect on the measurement, and the effect was sustained for up to one half hour or longer.