DOPPLER CONTRAST SONOGRAPHY FOR DETECTING REDUCED PERFUSION IN EXPERIMENTAL-ISCHEMIA OF PREPUBERTAL RABBIT TESTES

Rational and objectives. We examined whether the intravenous (IV) Dopp ler ultrasound contrast agent SHU 508 would improve the detection of r educed perfusion of rabbit testes when normal flow was otherwise diffi cult to detect. Methods. Seventeen anesthetized prepubertal rabbits un derwent random unilateral spermatic cord ligation and a contralateral sham operation. Immediate, blinded, and systematic color Doppler exami nation of each pair of testes was recorded before and after IV adminis tration of 1 ml (300 mg) SHU 508, a gas-containing microparticle. Reco rded examinations were reviewed by two pediatric radiologists who were unaware of experimental conditions and who graded intratesticular flo w.Results. For 34 pairs of observations (17 animals x 2 observers), in tratesticular flow was absent in the sham-operated testes in 18 precon trast and two postcontrast images. The false-positive rate in this gro up decreased from 53% to 6%. This improvement in the detection of norm al blood flow was statistically significant. The absence of flow in th e ischemic testis was not significantly different before or after cont rast agent administration. Conclusion. IV SHU 508 enhances color Doppl er ultrasound detection of flow not otherwise evident in prepubertal r abbit testes. Doppler ultra-sound contrast agents may be used in a set ting of suspected torsion when routine Doppler sonography is indetermi nate.