Contrast-enhanced ultrasound may be effective for the measurement of the free distal segment length of the internal carotid artery in carotid body tumours

S Liu; Y Wang; S Tan; Y Fu; X Yao

doi:10.1016/j.crad.2024.106762

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound may be effective for the measurement of the free distal segment length of the internal carotid artery in carotid body tumours

Clin Radiol. 2024 Nov 29:81:106762. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2024.106762. Online ahead of print.

Authors

S Liu¹, Y Wang², S Tan³, Y Fu¹, X Yao¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
² Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China; Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Haidian Hospital, Beijing, 100086, China.
³ Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China. Electronic address: tanshi@hsc.pku.edu.cn.

PMID: 39719734
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2024.106762

Abstract

Aim: This pilot study aimed to determine whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is effective for measuring the free distal segment length of the internal carotid artery (FDS-ICA) in carotid body tumours (CBTs).

Materials and methods: Thirty-seven patients with 38 confirmed CBTs were enrolled. Before surgery, all patients underwent grey scale ultrasound (US), colour Doppler US (CDU), and CEUS. The FDS-ICA was measured using these three modes. Subsequently, the results were compared with those acquired using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Operative conditions, complications, and the correlation between US parameters and operative outcomes were assessed.

Results: CEUS accurately measured FDS-ICA values, with no significant difference compared with CTA (P=0.595). Grey scale US measurements had a similar accuracy compared to CEUS and CTA when the bone surface was well visualised (P=0.735 and 0.463, respectively). However, CDU measurements were significantly less accurate than grey scale US, CEUS, and CTA measurements (P=0.033, P=0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). FDS-ICA measured using CEUS exhibited a significant negative correlation with both estimated blood loss and surgical duration; however, no association was observed between FDS-ICA and carotid artery or cranial nerve injuries.

Conclusion: CEUS can be used to measure the FDS-ICA and is a novel alternative to CTA, obviating the need for radioactive and iodine contrast agents. Further investigations with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted to establish the predictive value of FDS-ICA for surgical complications.