CONTRAST ULTRASOUND PERFUSION IMAGING OF LOWER EXTREMITIES IN PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE – A NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC METHOD

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish contrast enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging (CUPI) of the lower extremities to improve non-invasive diagnostic accuracy in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods and Materials: Seventeen healthy volunteers and 20 patients with PAD diagnosed by standardized angiological algorithms were enrolled in the study. Ultrasound contrast agent (SonoVue™) was injected into a peripheral vein and its appearance in the calf muscle was detected by low energy harmonic ultrasound. Results: Analysis of the contrast wash-in curves revealed that patients with P…