Confounding effects of myocardial background intensity and attenuation in contrast echocardiography: an in vivo study

L. J. Bos, J. J. Piek, I. Vergroesen, J. A. Spaan

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Abstract

It has been shown in vitro that the time-intensity data of echo contrast agents may be influenced by the background intensity of the myocardium and attenuation at high contrast agent concentrations. In the present study, these effects are evaluated from in vivo data. An effect of background intensity of the myocardium on the determination of the transit rate of the contrast agent could not be demonstrated unambiguously. A statistically significant relation between transit rate and background intensity was found only for intermediate flows in the transmural region. The magnitude of this relation was such that it does not provide a serious source of error. Attenuation and shadowing typically underestimate the transit rate of the contrast agent, which results in overestimation of flow. It is recommended that the lowest doses of contrast agent inducing myocardial opacification should be applied
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1177-1184
JournalUltrasound in medicine & biology
Volume25
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1999

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