DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT OF ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENT ENHANCEMENT - CURRENTSTATUS

Findings in previous investigations have indicated that contrast-enhan ced colour Doppler can be used to improve the demonstration of charact eristic features of neovascularization in malignancies. However, the q uantification of the increase in colour Doppler signals after Levovist in the cited study relied only on descriptive criteria defined by the investigator, resulting in a subjective scoring system. A computer-as sisted method for quantitative analysis of colour pixel density is a n ovel approach for objective assessment of colour Doppler signal after contrast media administration. After microbubble contrast medium injec tion in 47 patients, carcinomas and benign lesions behaved differently regarding degree, onset and duration of Doppler enhancement. However, the high interindividual variability and the temporal Variations of t he Doppler signal still limit the Value of these criteria for prospect ive diagnosis. Rapid image-acquisition techniques are needed in order to apply the necessary mathematical processing before the contrast kin etics can be used for diagnostic purposes.