Quantitative evaluation of Imagent (R) as an abdominal ultrasound contrastmedium in dogs

Diagnostic ultrasound currently provides a noninvasive, economical means to evaluate internal organ structure. Methods to increase the amount of diagn ostic information obtained from the sonographic examination are being explo red. A new area of research has recently focused on the ability of microbub ble contrast agents to help provide additional information. A prospective s tudy was undertaken to quantitatively evaluate the amount of gray scale enh ancement of ultrasound images of six canine livers, spleens, and left kidne ys that occurs after intravenous injection of Imagent.(R) Computerized anal ysis was used to assess the percent change in brightness of these images. A transient decrease in the percent change in brightness was seen to occur a fter injection of higher doses of Imagent,(R) This effect was more pronounc ed in the deeper portions of the organs of interest. Imagent(R) provides a measurable change in the brightness of the organs of interest and would be potentially useful in a clinical setting.