Experimental approbation of a new ultrosound contrast agent based on sulfur geksafluoride in diagnostics of focal liver lesions of inflammatory genesis

Purpose of the study. Experimental approbation of a new domestic ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) based on sulfur hexafluoride in the diagnosis of focal liver lesions of inflammatory genesis.

Materials and methods. The investigated ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) was a heterogeneous gas-liquid system consisting of micro bubbles of a sparingly soluble gas of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) surrounded by a flexible mobile membrane of surfactants. Experimental work was carried out on rabbits. The study group included rabbits of males and females with focal liver lesion of inflammatory genesis (n = 12) weighing 1500- 1700 g. UCA was administered to animals in the ear vein. Focal lesions of the liver in animals were created in the experimental laboratory conditions. 14 days after the operation, all animals were subjected to ultrasound examination of the surgical intervention zones by using the Toshiba Aplio 400 scanners (Japan) with a 3,5–8 MHz convection sensor. In a natural study, the size, structure and echogenicity of the focus were assessed, the degree of vascularization, the evenness and clarity of the contours were determined. When performing post contrast ultrasound, the time of the onset of contrast enhancement, the total duration of contrast, the changes in the contrast enhancement of the focus in different phases of the study were measured, the dimensions of the focus were measured, and the evenness and acuity of contours were measured. For histological examination, liver fragments and lungs were used. 

1. Mitkov V.V. Prakticheskoye rukovodstvo po ul’trazvukovoy diagnostike. Obshchaya ul’trazvukovaya diagnostika: ucheb. dlya vuzov [Practical guidance on ultrasound diagnostics. General ultrasound diagnosis: textbook for universities]. M.: Vidar. Publ., 2011: 720 (in Russian).

2. Kulikov V.P., Shul’gina L.E., Dicheskul M.L. i dr. Ul’trazvukovaya diagnostika sosudistykh zabolevaniy: ucheb.-metod. posobiye [Ultrasonic diagnostics of vascular diseases: a teaching method]. M.: Strom Publ., 2011: 512 (in Russian).

3. Greis C. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in General Imaging. Italia, Springer-Verlag, 2005: 326.

4. Quasia E. Microbubblebultrasound contrast agents: an update. // Eur. Radiol. 2007;. 17 (8): 1995–2008.

5. Lencioni R. Enhancing the Role of Ultrasound with Contrast Agents. Italia, Springer-Verlag, 2009: 378.

6. Atri M., Gertner M.R., Haider M.A. et al. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography for Real-time Monitoring of Interstitial Laser Thermal Therapy in the Focal Treatment of Prostate Cancer // CUAJ. 2009; 3: 38–44.

7. Badea A.F., Tamas-Szora A., Clichici S. Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the characterization of tumor microcirculation. Validation of the procedure in the animal experimental model // Med. Ultrason. 2013. 15 (2): 85–94.

8. Takada H., Tsuchiya K., Yasui Y. et al. Сomparison of сontrast-уnhanced гltrasound and gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced MRI for the diagnosis of macroscopic type of hepatocellular carcinoma // Cancer Med. 2016. 5 (11): 3111–3120.

9. Ueda N., Nagira H., Sannomiya N. et al. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in evaluation of the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy for patients with liver metastases // Yonago Acta Med. 2016; 26: 255–261.

10. Pfister K., Rennert J., Uller W. et al. Contrast harmonic imaging ultrasound and perfusion imaging for surveillance after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair regarding detection and characterization of suspected endoleaks // Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2009; 43: 119–128.

11. Dong Y., Wang W.P., Mao F. et al. Contrast enhanced ultrasound features of hepatic cystadenoma and hepatic cystadenocarcinoma // Gastroenterol. 2017; 52 (3): 365–372.

12. Streba C.T., Ionescu M., Gheonea D.I. et al.Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography parameters in neural network diagnosis of liver tumors // World J Gastroenterol. 2012; 18 (32): 4427–4434.