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Use of a microbubble agent to increase the effects of high intensity focused ultrasound on liver tissue

  • Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
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Abstract

In order to find out whether high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) might be useful against hepatocellular carcinoma, we analyzed the effect of a microbubble agent (Levovist) on the temperature rise and tissue necrosis induced by HIFU. Rabbits were given 7 ml Levovist (300 mg/ml) or saline intravenously. Up to six areas per rabbit liver were exposed to HIFU for 60 s (2.18 MHz, ISPTA=400 W/cm2). The volume of the tissue coagulated by HIFU was measured 10 min after the start of HIFU. HIFU-induced lesions were larger in the animals given Levovist: (mm3, Levovist versus saline) 371±104 versus 166±71 (P<0.001). Temperatures in the animals given Levovist were also higher 60 s after the start of exposure: (°C, Levovist versus saline) 20.3±3.5 versus 13.2±3.8 (P<0.001). The amount of damage differed greatly, but the pathological changes caused by HIFU with Levovist were the same as those caused by HIFU with saline. Hemorrhagic areas and implosion cysts were seen, and many cells had been disrupted or destroyed. Microbubble agents developed for diagnostic uses could also be used in anticancer therapy.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, Culture, and Technology of Japan. Y.K. thanks JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Yukio Kaneko & Yoichiro Matsumoto

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Toshiyuki Maruyama, Hiroshi Mitsui & Kazuyuki Hanajiri

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Kenji Takegami, Toshiaki Watanabe & Hirokazu Nagawa

Authors
  1. Yukio Kaneko
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  2. Toshiyuki Maruyama
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  3. Kenji Takegami
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  4. Toshiaki Watanabe
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  5. Hiroshi Mitsui
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  6. Kazuyuki Hanajiri
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  7. Hirokazu Nagawa
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  8. Yoichiro Matsumoto
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Correspondence to Toshiyuki Maruyama.

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Kaneko, Y., Maruyama, T., Takegami, K. et al. Use of a microbubble agent to increase the effects of high intensity focused ultrasound on liver tissue. Eur Radiol 15, 1415–1420 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2663-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2663-7

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