Chapter 32: Vascular Applications of Ultrasound Contrast Agents Flashcards
the use of medical ultrasound imaging after administration of an ultrasound contrast agent
contrast-enhanced sonography
encapsulated gas-containing structures that are typically smaller than 8 microns in size
microbubbles
compositions that, after administration, after the acoustic properties of body tissues (including blood), typically resulting in higher ultrasound signal reflectivity; also known as ultrasound contrast medium
ultrasound contrast agen
microbubbles formed by agitation of saline resulted in strong reflections of US beam arising within normally echo-free lumen of aorta and chambers of heart
“bubble study” echocardiography
assessment of patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension or intracardiac shunts
“bubble study” echocardiography
characteristics of microbubbles in saline
nonuniform in size
relatively large
unstable
unsuitable for sonographic evaluations of left heart and systemic circulations
“bubble study”
3 characteristics of UCA in order for it to be useful:
- nontoxic
- have microbubbles or microparticles that are small enough to traverse pulmonary capillary beds but large enough to reflect US signals
- stable enough to provide multiple recirculations
small IV bolus provides ___ minutes of enhancement
2
Slow IV infusion provides ___ minutes or more of enhancement
12
contained exclusively in body’s vascular spaces
blood-pool UCAs
Tissue specific agents have two unique characteristics
affinity for targeted tissue
ability to alter tissues sonographic detectability
Tissue specific agents change ______
signal impedance
considered molecular imaging agents
tissue-specific agents
have a specific ligand or other binding moeity attached to their shell that has an affinity for a particular receptor (target); enhance thrombolysis using acoustic energy with and without nontargeted UCA microbubbles; potential noninvasive therapy for patients who suffer from embolic stroke
therapeutic agents
can be performed with same transducers used for conventional US; configured to receive only echoes at second harmonic frequency which is twice the transmit frequency
harmonic imaging
echoes from the oscillating microbubbles have a higher signal-to-noise ratio than would be provided by using conventional US so that regions with microbubbles are more easily appreciated visually
Harmonic imaging mode
provides a means to visualize contrast-enhanced blood flow and contrast-containing tissue using B-mode imaging
contrast-specific harmonic imaging
Contrast specific imaging modes designed to utilize _____ acoustic power
low
Contrast-specific imaging modes are defined by ______
mechanical index
avoid or minimize microbubble destruction
mechanical index
briefly increases the transmitted acoustic power to intentionally destroy the microbubbles of contrast
“flash-echo”
used to observe reperfusion of blood into the region over time
“flash echo”
The “bubbles” used for ultrasound contrast are typically smaller than what?
8 microns
For what reason are contrast agents approved for use in the United States?
echocardiography and liver applications