Harmonic imaging of the brain parenchyma in a dog model following NC100100 (Sonazoid) bolus injection.

Abstract

NC100100 (Sonazoid) is a new perfluorocarbon-based ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) that has not been introduced to transcranial harmonic imaging. In an animal study on 6 beagle dogs, the authors performed harmonic power Doppler and gray-scale imaging (SONOS 5500, S4 probe) after bolus injection of 2 different doses of Sonazoid. Time intensity curves for brain parenchyma, masticatory muscle, and contralateral skull were generated, and the peak increase from baseline was computed. With harmonic gray-scale imaging, a dose-dependent homogeneous increase in acoustic intensity of the brain parenchyma was observed. Evaluation of the contralateral base of the skull showed a moderate signal decrease. In harmonic power Doppler sonography, signal increase was dose dependent also, but the signal pattern was inhomogeneous, with stronger enhancement in the anterior part of the brain. The new UCA Sonazoid is suitable for displaying brain perfusion. As already observed for other UCAs, gray-scale harmonic imaging with Sonazoid leads to a more homogeneous contrast increase in cerebral parenchyma compared to harmonic power Doppler imaging. Sonazoid produces a moderate shadowing effect, with signal attenuation in the underlying deeper regions of interest.