Evaluation of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (ceus) in canine mammary gland tumours

Abstract

Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a non-invasive method of examination that surpassed the normal standard B-Mode and Doppler ultrasonography (US). The use of contrast agents (CA) allows the examiner to observe a more detailed map of the tumor vascularization. The aim of this study was to establish the advantages and disadvantages of this method. The study was conducted on 5 canine patients, different breeds with the the age between 8 and 12 years. Each patient was presented with a mammary tumor and evaluated through a standard US. The CEUS examination was performed after injecting intravenously, in bolus, 1 ml/10 kg of prepared UCA SonoVue (8 μl/ml sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles, Bracco, Italy). A 3-minute recording was saved after the administration and afterwards evaluated. The results were satisfactory, but the small mammary nodules were not only hard to examine but did not show a difference from the B-Mode US. The advantages were clear in the larger and more aggressive tumors and a layout of the neovascularization was quite clear. In conclusion, at this stage of the study the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and further investigations are needed.