Abstract
Purpose. This prospective study was conducted
to evaluate the biologic effects of microbubble
destruction with pulse-inversion harmonic imaging
on rabbit liver parenchyma.
Methods. The liversof 6 albino rabbits wereexamined
sonographically by a single investigator. Three rabbits
underwent contrast-enhanced sonography, with scanning
starting 5 seconds after injection by using pulseinversion
harmonic imaging with amechanical index of
1.2. Four time-triggered images were recorded at a rate
of 1 frame every 2 seconds. For comparison, 3 control
rabbits had pulse-inversion harmonic imaging with a
mechanical index of 1.2 only, without contrastmedium.
Immediately after sonography, the animals were killed
and uninterrupted, thin serial sections of the liver from
both groups were analyzed by energy-filtered transmission
electronmicroscopy.
Results. The hepatic parenchyma of rabbits exposed
to contrast agents had ultrastructural damage: mitochondria
with fragmented crests; interrupted rough
endoplasmic reticulum; enlarged intercellular spaces;
highly vacuolized cytoplasmic areas; dilated sinusoids,
sometimes with an irregular and interrupted endothelial
wall; fragmented hepatocyte microvilli in dilated
spaces of Disse; fragmented or missing microvilli
in bile canaliculi; vacuolated and lysosome-deprived
hepatic cytoplasm around the bile canaliculi; markedly
injured or fragmented endothelium in larger vessels;
and damaged basal membrane. Control-group results
indicated that exposure to ultrasound alone did not
cause ultrastructural damage to hepatic cells.
Conclusions. Simultaneous exposure to contrast
administration and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging
with a high mechanical index causes ultrastructural
damage in the rabbit liver.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 106-111 |
Numero di pagine | 6 |
Rivista | Journal of Clinical Ultrasound |
Volume | 33 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Published - 2005 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- ???subjectarea.asjc.2700.2741???