TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Assessment of Uterine Fibroids: A Feasibility Study
AU - Stoelinga, Barbara
AU - Dooper, Anniek M. C.
AU - Juffermans, Lynda J. M.
AU - Postema, Arnoud W.
AU - Wijkstra, Hessel
AU - Brölmann, Hans A. M.
AU - Huirne, Judith A. F.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an innovative ultrasound technique capable of visualizing both the macro- and microvasculature of tissues. In this prospective pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of using CEUS to visualize the microvasculature of uterine fibroids and compared CEUS with conventional ultrasound. Four women with fibroids underwent gray-scale ultrasound, sonoelastography and power/color Doppler scans followed by CEUS examination. Analysis of CEUS images revealed initial perfusion of the peripheral rim, that is, a pseudo-capsule, followed by enhancement of the entire lesion through vessels traveling from the exterior to the interior of the fibroid. The pseudo-capsules exhibited slight hyper-enhancement, making a clear delineation of the fibroids possible. The centers of three fibroids exhibited areas lacking vascularization, information not obtainable with the other imaging techniques. CEUS is a feasible technique for imaging and quantifying the microvasculature of fibroids. In comparison with conventional ultrasound imaging modalities, CEUS can provide additional diagnostic information based on the microvasculature.
AB - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an innovative ultrasound technique capable of visualizing both the macro- and microvasculature of tissues. In this prospective pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of using CEUS to visualize the microvasculature of uterine fibroids and compared CEUS with conventional ultrasound. Four women with fibroids underwent gray-scale ultrasound, sonoelastography and power/color Doppler scans followed by CEUS examination. Analysis of CEUS images revealed initial perfusion of the peripheral rim, that is, a pseudo-capsule, followed by enhancement of the entire lesion through vessels traveling from the exterior to the interior of the fibroid. The pseudo-capsules exhibited slight hyper-enhancement, making a clear delineation of the fibroids possible. The centers of three fibroids exhibited areas lacking vascularization, information not obtainable with the other imaging techniques. CEUS is a feasible technique for imaging and quantifying the microvasculature of fibroids. In comparison with conventional ultrasound imaging modalities, CEUS can provide additional diagnostic information based on the microvasculature.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85046624877&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29735316
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.03.030
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.03.030
M3 - Article
C2 - 29735316
SN - 0301-5629
VL - 44
SP - 1901
EP - 1909
JO - Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
JF - Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
IS - 8
ER -