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Power Doppler signal calibration between ultrasound machines by use of a capillary-flow phantom for pannus vascularity in rheumatoid finger joints: a basic study

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Abstract

Ultrasound allows the detection and grading of inflammation in rheumatology. Despite these advantages of ultrasound in the management of rheumatoid patients, it is well known that there are significant machine-to-machine disagreements regarding signal quantification. In this study, we tried to calibrate the power Doppler (PD) signal of two models of ultrasound machines by using a capillary-flow phantom. After flow velocity analysis in the perfusion cartridge at various injection rates (0.1–0.5 ml/s), we measured the signal count in the perfusion cartridge at various injection rates and pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) by using PD, perfusing an ultrasound micro-bubble contrast agent diluted with normal saline simulating human blood. By use of the data from two models of ultrasound machines, Aplio 500 (Toshiba) and Avius (Hitachi Aloka), the quantitative PD (QPD) index [the summation of the colored pixels in a 1 cm × 1 cm rectangular region of interest (ROI)] was calculated via Image J (internet free software). We found a positive correlation between the injection rate and the flow velocity. In Aplio 500 and Avius, we found negative correlations between the PRF and the QPD index when the flow velocity was constant, and a positive correlation between flow velocity and the QPD index at constant PRF. The equation for the relationship of the PRF between Aplio 500 and Avius was: y = 0.023x + 0.36 [y = PRF of Avius (kHz), x = PRF of Aplio 500 (kHz)]. Our results suggested that the signal calibration of various models of ultrasound machines is possible by adjustment of the PRF setting.

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Acknowledgments

This study was accomplished with a contribution from the Nikkiso Technical Research Institute and Nikkiso Co., Ltd., who provided the perfusion cartridge analyzed, and from Nemoto Kyorindo Co., Ltd., who prepared the angiography injector for this study. This study was supported by a research grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan

    Ryosuke Sakano

  2. Faculty of Health Science, Hokkaido University, North-12 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan

    Tamotsu Kamishima

  3. Diagnostic Center for Sonography/Division of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, North-14 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan

    Mutsumi Nishida

  4. Diagnostic Center for Sonography/Department of Radiology, Hokkaido University Hospital, North-14 West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan

    Tatsunori Horie

Authors
  1. Ryosuke Sakano
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  2. Tamotsu Kamishima
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  3. Mutsumi Nishida
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  4. Tatsunori Horie
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Correspondence to Tamotsu Kamishima.

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Sakano, R., Kamishima, T., Nishida, M. et al. Power Doppler signal calibration between ultrasound machines by use of a capillary-flow phantom for pannus vascularity in rheumatoid finger joints: a basic study. Radiol Phys Technol 8, 120–124 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-014-0299-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-014-0299-5

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