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The effect of ultrasound with acoustic radiation force on rabbit lung tissue: a preliminary study

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Abstract

Purpose

Acoustic radiation force (ARF) elastography has recently become available. The previous animal studies have revealed lung injuries induced by diagnostic ultrasound, but the effects on the lung resulting from exposure to ultrasound with ARF are unknown. This study aimed to assess the risk of lung injury associated with ultrasound with ARF.

Methods

A focused 2.5-MHz transducer that emits ultrasound with ARF was used. A rabbit was anesthetized, and the transducer was placed in the right subcostal region. Exposure settings of mechanical index (MI) 0.80, pulse duration 10 ms, pulse repetition time 5 s, and exposure time 150 s were applied.

Results

One red spot (7 × 6 mm) was observed on the surface of the right lung corresponding to the area of exposure. Alveolar hemorrhage was observed microscopically. This lesion was visible across a range of 20–170 μm in depth from the pleural surface.

Conclusion

The first example of lung hemorrhage induced by ultrasound with ARF was observed in this study. This observation suggests the possibility of lung injury in humans when ARF elastography is applied with the transducer directed toward the lung. Further studies are needed to determine the safety of this modality.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research B (23300194) and C (26350544) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a Research and Development Committee Program of the Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine. This work was also supported in part by a project of the Ultrasound Equipment and Safety Committee of the Japanese Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Noriya Takayama & Nobuyuki Taniguchi

  2. Department of Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan

    Yasunao Ishiguro, Hideki Sasanuma & Yoshikazu Yasuda

  3. Medical Ultrasound Research Center, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, Japan

    Kazuki Akai & Iwaki Akiyama

  4. Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Naotaka Nitta

Authors
  1. Noriya Takayama
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  2. Yasunao Ishiguro
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  3. Nobuyuki Taniguchi
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  4. Kazuki Akai
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  5. Hideki Sasanuma
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  6. Yoshikazu Yasuda
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  7. Naotaka Nitta
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  8. Iwaki Akiyama
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Noriya Takayama.

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Conflict of interest

None declared.

Ethical consideration

All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

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Takayama, N., Ishiguro, Y., Taniguchi, N. et al. The effect of ultrasound with acoustic radiation force on rabbit lung tissue: a preliminary study. J Med Ultrasonics 43, 481–485 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-016-0730-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-016-0730-0

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