ULTRASONIC TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION OF BLOOD DURING STASIS AND THROMBOSIS WITH A REAL-TIME LINEAR-ARRAY BACKSCATTER IMAGING-SYSTEM

Citation
D. Recchia et Sa. Wickline, ULTRASONIC TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION OF BLOOD DURING STASIS AND THROMBOSIS WITH A REAL-TIME LINEAR-ARRAY BACKSCATTER IMAGING-SYSTEM, Coronary artery disease, 4(11), 1993, pp. 987-994
Citations number
38
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiac & Cardiovascular System
Journal title
ISSN journal
09546928
Volume
4
Issue
11
Year of publication
1993
Pages
987 - 994
Database
ISI
SICI code
0954-6928(1993)4:11<987:UTCOBD>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
Background: The use of B-mode ultrasound in the diagnosis of thrombosi s is still limited by problems that include transducer-related artifac ts, the influence of system electronics on image formation, and the su bjective nature of image interpretation. In this study we used a novel quantitative vascular imaging method based on the measurement of ultr asonic integrated backscatter to detect changes in the scattering from blood under conditions of stasis and coagulation. Methods: Thrombi we re created in excised sections of porcine aortae and imaged in a water tank over 2 h with a clinical integrated backscatter imaging system e quipped with a 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer. Similar backscatter im aging was performed on anticoagulated whole blood that was allowed to remain quiescent for 2 h. Imaging was also performed on anticoagulated blood to which hetastarch was added to accelerate red cell aggregatio n. Results: The integrated backscatter from thrombus increased by 19.4 +/- 2.1 dB from baseline. Blood that remained static but did not clot showed an increase in integrated backscatter of 12.6 +/- 0.9 dB; this increase was immediately and completely reversed by restirring. The a ddition of hetastarch produced a marked increase in scattering of 29.0 +/- 1.6 dB, and this value also returned to baseline after the blood was restirred. The increase in integrated backscatter after the additi on of hetastarch was significantly greater than that observed for thro mbosis, which in turn was greater than that for static blood. Conclusi on: Quantitative integrated backscatter imaging of blood during stasis and coagulation is feasible using a clinically applicable real-time i ntegrated backscatter imager. Ultrasonic tissue characterization of th rombi may provide data on thrombus age, composition, and stability, wh ich may assist diagnosis and treatment.