Objective: To explore the role of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in diagnosing experimental cerebral intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IH) in dogs.
Methods: A self-control study was conducted. An IH model was reproduced by puncturing middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 12 dogs. Two-dimensional ultrasound and CEUS were conducted immediately, 30 minutes, and 1 hour after modeling, respectively, to observe the lesion echo and bleeding area. CT scans were also conducted at 1 hour after modeling, then the lesion size in CT scan was compared with that of CEUS.
Results: In 12 dogs IH model was reproduced successfully, and unilateral hematomas were confirmed by CT and pathological examination. Two-dimensional ultrasound of IH showed irregular high-echo area, with unclear boundary, but it was not able to show active bleeding. CEUS demonstrated active bleeding by outflow and pooling of contrast agent with obvious enhancement. CEUS of the hematoma showed perfusion deficit, with a clear boundary. The size of bleeding lesions (cm) continued to increase at 30 minutes and 1 hour after modeling (1.47±0.40, 1.76±0.45 by CEUS measuring), and demonstrated statistically significant difference comparing with the measurement of IH immediately after modeling (1.03±0.24, both P<0.01), while there was no statistically significant difference between the 30-minute and 1-hour measurements (P>0.05). Compared with the measurements between CEUS and CT at 1 hour, there was no statistically significant difference in size of bleeding lesions (1.76±0.45 vs. 1.79±0.47, P>0.05).
Conclusion: CEUS can help determine the extent and size of IH, and the process of hematoma formation when dynamically monitoring.