Assessment of tumor vasculature for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in a mouse model in vivo using 25-MHz power Doppler imaging

• Published in: Ultrasonics Vol. 51; no. 8; pp. 925 - 931
• Main Authors: Chen, Jia-Jiun, Chen, Jia-Jin Jason, Chiang, Chi-Shiun, Hong, Ji-Hong, Yeh, Chih-Kuang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustic signal processing; Acoustics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity; Disease Models, Animal; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microcirculation; Miscellaneous. Technology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - diagnostic imaging; Physics; Power Doppler imaging; Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Tumor core and periphery; Tumor vasculature; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color - methods; User-Computer Interface; Tumor core and periphery; Power Doppler imaging; Tumor vasculature; Human; Ultrasound imaging; Rodentia; Doppler effect; Modeling; Blood flow; Angiogenesis; Microcirculation; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Perfusion; Circulatory system; Hemodynamics; Acoustic image; Treatment planning; Spatial resolution; Medical application
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2011.05.007

► A 25-MHz ultrasound imaging system for assessing tumor-microcirculation development and pattern of the vasculature in vivo. ► The total Doppler power (DP) and color pixel density (CPD) revealed the presence of functional vessels distributed. ► The vasculature distributions in the core and periphery were compared to the regulation of vasculature function. ► Both DP and CPD increased rapidly in the tumor periphery when the tumor volume exceeded a larger size. The blood flow rate in the microcirculation associated with angiogenesis plays an important role in the progression and treatment of cancer. Since the microvascular status of tumor vessels can yield useful clinical information, assessing changes in the tumor microcirculation could be particularly helpful for tumor evaluation and treatment planning. In this study we used a self-developed 25-MHz ultrasound imaging system with a spatial resolution of 150 μm for assessing tumor-microcirculation development and the pattern of the vasculature in three tumor-bearing mice in vivo based on power Doppler images. The total Doppler power (DP) and color pixel density (CPD) revealed the presence of functional vessels distributed throughout a tumor volume. The vasculature distributions in the core and periphery were compared to the regulation of vasculature function, which facilitated determination of when the tumor grew rapidly. The data obtained from a quantified analysis of power Doppler images indicated that the tumor vascularity initially increased throughout the tumor. Both DP and CPD increased rapidly in the tumor periphery when the tumor volume exceeded 10 mm 3. Our preclinical findings suggest that power Doppler imaging could be useful for detecting the changes in tumor vascular perfusion and for determining the optimal treatment timing when a tumor begins its rapid volumetric growth.