Zhou Y, Gong X, You Y. In vivo evaluation of focused ultrasound ablation surgery (FUAS)-induced coagulation using echo amplitudes of the therapeutic focused ultrasound transducer.
Int J Hyperthermia 2024;
41:2325477. [PMID:
38439505 DOI:
10.1080/02656736.2024.2325477]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Monitoring sensitivity of sonography in focused ultrasound ablation surgery (FUAS) is limited (no hyperechoes in ∼50% of successful coagulation in uterine fibroids). A more accurate and sensitive approach is required.
METHOD
The echo amplitudes of the focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer in a testing mode (short pulse duration and low power) were found to correlate with the ex vivo coagulation. To further evaluate its coagulation prediction capabilities, in vivo experiments were carried out. The liver, kidney, and leg muscles of three adult goats were treated using clinical FUAS settings, and the echo amplitude of the FUS transducer and grayscale in sonography before and after FUAS were collected. On day 7, animals were sacrificed humanely, and the treated tissues were dissected to expose the lesion. Echo amplitude changes and lesion areas were analyzed statistically, as were the coagulation prediction metrics.
RESULTS
The echo amplitude changes of the FUS transducer correlate well with the lesion areas in the liver (R = 0.682). Its prediction in accuracy (94.4% vs. 50%), sensitivity (92.9% vs. 35.7%), and negative prediction (80% vs. 30.8%) is better than sonography, but similar in specificity (80% vs. 100%) and positive prediction (100% vs. 100%). In addition, the correlation between tissue depth and the lesion area is not good (|R| < 0.2). Prediction performances in kidney and leg muscles are similar.
CONCLUSION
The FUS echo amplitudes are sensitive to the tissue properties and their changes after FUAS. They are sensitive and reliable in evaluating and predicting FUAS outcomes.
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