shu-508 and Abscess

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential usefulness of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound in the detection and follow-up of local complications (phlegmon and abscess) in Crohn's disease.. With this aim, 28 patients with suspected abdominal inflammatory mass were examined with power Doppler ultrasound before and after intravenous administration of the ultrasound contrast agent Levovist, with evaluation of vascularity within and/or around the inflammatory mass. Colour Doppler flow was characterized as clearly visible, minimally visible or absent. All the patients underwent a post-contrast computed tomography exam.. Power Doppler ultrasound, after administration of contrast medium, allows the detection of small inflammatory masses in Crohn's disease, particularly those under 2 cm in diameter, when compared with computed tomography.. We conclude that contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound is a sensitive method for the detection of small abdominal inflammatory masses and for differential diagnosis between phlegmon and abscess.

Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Adult; Cellulitis; Contrast Media; Crohn Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Intestinal Diseases; Male; Polysaccharides; Prospective Studies; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Our objective was to characterize the properties of an intravascular ultrasonographic contrast agent in examination of adnexal masses and to compare contrast agent properties between benign and malignant adnexal tumors. Fifty-eight consecutively examined women with suspected ovarian tumors were examined preoperatively by power Doppler ultrasonography, first without and then with contrast agent enhancement (Levovist). Fourteen women had ovarian cancer, 3 had borderline ovarian tumors, 18 had benign ovarian neoplasms, and 23 had functional adnexal cystic masses or endometriomas. The effect of the contrast agent was evaluated visually and by using computerized power Doppler signal intensity measurements. In visual evaluation, the brightness of the power Doppler signal and the amount of recognizable vascular areas increased in each tumor after contrast agent administration. The number of vessels in power Doppler ultrasonograms, both before and after contrast agent enhancement, was significantly higher in malignant than in benign adnexal masses, as also was the increase in the number of recognizable vessels after contrast agent administration. Contrast agent uptake time was significantly shorter in malignant than in benign tumors. No significant differences were found in the power Doppler signal intensities or their changes between benign and malignant tumors. In conclusion, use of sonographic contrast agent facilitates imaging of tumor vessels. For differentiation of benign and malignant tumors, the kinetic properties of the contrast agent, such as uptake and washout times, may have more potential than the use of the contrast agent in anatomic imaging of the tumor vessels.

Topics: Abscess; Adenofibroma; Adnexal Diseases; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Contrast Media; Cystadenoma; Dermoid Cyst; Endometriosis; Fallopian Tube Diseases; Female; Humans; Image Enhancement; Middle Aged; Ovarian Cysts; Ovarian Diseases; Ovarian Neoplasms; Polysaccharides; Ultrasonography, Doppler