Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026
Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
Quantitative microbubble enhanced transrectal ultrasound as a tool for monitoring hormonal treatment of prostate
Robert J Eckersley1, J P Michiel Sedelaar, Martin J K Blomley
1Ultrasound Group, Imaging Sciences Department, Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College Medical School, Hammersmith Campus, London, United Kingdom. r.eckersley@ic.ac.uk
Background:
We quantified changes in prostate carcinoma vascularity treated with anti-androgens using color Doppler and power transrectal ultrasound in combination with microbubble contrast agent Levovist.
Methods:
Thirty-six men with prostate carcinoma were studied at baseline and at intervals during treatment. At each attendance, Levovist((R)) (10 ml, 300 mg/ml) was given as an iv bolus. Using quantitative analysis, we calculated the pre-enhancement scores, arrival time, time to peak, peak value, and area under the time-enhancement curve (AUC). These were compared to pre-treatment values and serial PSA measurements.
Results:
The pre-enhancement, peak value, and AUC each showed a marked response with reductions within one week. The average AUC declined to 68% +/- 9% (mean +/- standard error) by week 1, 56% +/- 9% by week 3, and 20% +/- 4% by week 6. A strong correlation with changes in the mean PSA (r = 0.95, P < 0.001) was also measured. In four patients, Doppler indices did not fall with PSA: two patients with the most marked discrepancy relapsed at 6 months.
Conclusion:
The vascular enhancement declined with therapy, similar to PSA. Microbubble enhanced ultrasound can show early response to treatment.
