Reliability of Semiquantitative Ultrasonic Perfusion Imaging of the Brain

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Contrast burst depletion imaging (CODIM) visualizes cerebral perfusion by destruction of microbubbles and observation of image intensity course. Because of its complexity, artifacts occur. Criteria of reliability to improve diagnostic significance were created and validated. Methods and Results. Eighteeen healthy volunteers were examined with 2 echo contrast agents (ECAs) and 3 frame rates in 3 regions of interest (ROIs). Perfusion coefficient (PC), Tmin (time to decrease intensity to 10% of its max), and relative error (RE) (deviation of measured data from fitted model) were determined. PC differed significantly neither between CA nor between frame rates (overall mean = 1.60 ± 0.21 × 10-2 s-1). Tmin differed significantly between frame rate groups (P