Dodecafluoropentane ultrasonic contrast enhancement in carotid diagnosis: Preliminary results

To assess the efficacy in carotid diagnosis of an investigational dodecaflu oropentane ultrasonic contrast enhancing agent, we compared B-mode, color f low, and duplex Doppler findings in 16 patients with common carotid artery bifurcation disease after dodecafluoropentane and saline injections. Dodeca fluoropentane produced enhanced backscatter in all patients for 4 to 20 min (mean, 8.4 +/- 4.74 min) after intravenous injection. In six patients this enhancement improved the color flow and pulsed Doppler signal detection in areas of sonographic shadowing. The enhanced color flow information change d the diagnostic impression in one case. Dodecafluoropentane produced enhan ced backscatter in the carotid artery in all patients, and for a mean durat ion longer than that reported for other agents. It has the potential to imp rove the efficacy of carotid ultrasonic evaluation.